Salting-out and salting-in experiments with lignosulfonates (LSs)

The solubility of lignosulfonates (LSs) in water is strongly dependent on other ions present in the water phase. The differences in the solubility might strongly influence the measurements of the physical and chemical properties of the LS molecules. A reduced solubility of the LS might also affect its utility in many practical applications. The understanding of the interaction between LSs and various salts is important for both practical and theoretical reasons. Therefore, the effect of salt concentrations on the LS has been investigated for 41 different salts with 14 different cations and 16 different anions. The observations cannot be explained by the common ion effect or the screening effects. On the contrary, it was found that the stability of LS solutions follows the Hofmeister series, with the exception of those ions that will chemically interact with the LS molecule. Moreover, the positions of phosphate (HPO42-) and sulfate (SO42-) ions were reversed.