Lignosulfonates

Lignosulfonates, or sulfonated lignin, are water-soluble anionic polyelectrolyte polymers, byproducts of the Acid Sulfite and sulfite process for production of wood pulp. They consist part of the black liquor. Chemically, they are sulfonated lignins.

Lignosulfonates are used as deflocculants in drilling mud used in oil drilling, where it replaced Quebracho.

Other applications of Lignosulphonates apart from being used in oil drilling are:
 * 1) Used in the cement industry as a rawmix slurry deflocculant
 * 2) Used in concrete as a plasticizer
 * 3) Used as emulsion stabilizers