Preparation and characterization of strongly swellable modified-lignosulfonate hydrogel particles

Lignosulfonate is one of the main byproducts of paper industry. The development and research activities on this important substance have drawn widespread interest in the world. Sodium lignosulfonate was modified by heating in acidic environment and then transferred the modified sodium lignosulfonate into sodium hydroxide solution for further stirring. An insoluble fraction was separated and washed thoroughly with de-ionized water to neutral. Finally, the modified sodium lignosulfonate hydrogel particles were obtained. The obtained hydrogel particles were ultrasonically dispersed in water to form a modified sodium lignosulfonate micro-hydrogel with mean sizes of 300–400 nm. This indicated that the modified sodium lignosulfonate hydrogel particles were generated by the agglomeration of modified sodium lignosulfonate micro-hydrogel. The hydrogel particles were characterized by physical and spectral methods involving infrared radiation, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic light scattering, and scanning electron microscope. The xerogels formed by drying modification of sodium lignosulfonate hydrogel particles showed a high water-adsorption of 31.2 g/g. In addition, the effect of reaction parameters on water swelling capacity and xerogel yield were also investigated, which include heating temperature, base treatment temperature, and concentration of sodium hydroxide solution. The research results indicated that the yield of modified sodium lignosulfonate hydrogel increases with higher heating temperature and decreases with higher alkali treatment temperature and concentration of sodium hydroxide solution. The water swelling capacity of the modified sodium lignosulfonate hydrogel increased slightly with higher heating temperature, but remained unaffected by the alkali treatment temperature and concentration of sodium hydroxide.