Lignosulfonate and silica as precursors of advanced composites

Advanced silica/lignosulfonate composites were obtained using magnesium lignosulfonate and silica precipitated in a polar medium. For comparative purposes analogous synthesis was performed using commercial silica Aerosil^®200. Lignosulfonates are waste products of paper industry and their application in new multifunctional materials is of great economic interest. The composites obtained were subjected to thorough characterization by determination of their physicochemical, dispersive-morphological and electrokinetic properties. Their particle size distribution was measured, SEM images were taken, FT-IR analysis and colorimetric study were made, thermal and electrokinetic stabilities and parameters of porous structure were also determined. The results can be of interest in further application studies