Introduction of lignosulfonate HS 3804000090

Lignin

Lignin is one of the natural polymers found in wood and accounts for 33% of the weight. It is even the second most common organic substance in the world after cellulose. The separation of Lignosulfonates from the other major component in wood, cellulose, takes place through a sulfonation process where wood is cooked in a chemical solution under specific pressure and temperature conditions. As a result, the lignin is separated. The cellulose remains unaltered and is used in the pulp and paper production industry.

The chemical structure of lignin, like that of many other natural polymers, is very complex. As lignin is normally insoluble in non-polar and organic solvents, a frequent method used to separate cellulose from lignin is to treat wood chips with a chemical solution at high temperatures. As a result, the basic component of the polymer, phenylpropane, is sulfonated and certain bonds between lignin and carbohydrates are broken down. The lignosulphonate obtained in this manner comprises polymers of varying weight, based on hydrolysis, the main components of which are calcium lignosulphonate and a number of polysaccharides.

Lignosulphonates can be polymerized, hydrolyzed, halogenated, nitrated, oxidized, dehydrogenated, or desulfonated. They can enter into mixed dimeric reactions with other functional groups for which they are excellent extenders. The polysaccharide groups can be oxidized, inverted, or eliminated by using molecular separation processes.

Lignins have been used for many years on road surfaces, in pesticide formulations, in animal feedstock, and other products that contact food. As a consequence, lignin manufacturers have performed extensive studies to test lignin’s impact on the environment. Results show that lignins are safe for the environment and not harmful to plants, animals, and aquatic life when properly manufactured and applied.

In the pulp mill process, cellulose is separated from lignin and recovered for use in a variety of different products. Lignosulfonate, a lignin product recovered from the sulfite pulping process, is of special interest in considering environmental issues. It has been used as a treatment for dirt roads in Europe and North America since the 1920s. Extensive scientific research and the historical use of this product without reported complaints of plant damage or serious problems support the conclusion that lignosulfonates are environmentally friendly and non-toxic.

Toxic levels of lignonate in surface water have been established and confirmed that concentrations must be relatively high for fish and other organisms to be affected. (1988-1990) A series of toxicological tests on lignosulfonates were carried out in laboratory animals at the Stanford International Research Institute in California. Careful analysis of the data confirmed earlier conclusions. Lignosulfonates have been found to be essentially non-toxic, non-irritating, non-mutagenic or genotoxic, and safe for use in food contact products for both animals and humans. Lignosulfonates have been approved for use in animal feed, various food contact materials, and pesticide formulations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the regulatory agency responsible for ensuring the safety of the food supply. Lignosulfonates have been used in animal feed for nearly 40 years. To date, no chronic toxicity issues have been documented, either from applications involving human food contact or animal consumption.