Dust Control At Affordable Prices

Frequently Asked Questions

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Dust Control, Road Stabilization

FAQ’s

Q. What is lignosulfonates and where do they come from?

A. Lignosulfonates is a complex polymer derived from trees in the pulp industry. The wood from trees is mostly composed of 3 components, cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin. The lignins are sulfonated so they become water-soluble and can be separated from the insoluble cellulose. The soluble lignin is called lignosulfonate.

Q. What is lignin used for?

A. Lignin is a very versatile product and used widely in Industrial applications. Generally it is used in dust control and road stabilization, but is also used as a dispersant, emulsifier and binder in such products as animal feed pellets and gypsum board.

Q. Is lignin environmentally safe?

A. There have been extensive studies on the effects of lignosulfonates on the environment. They show that they are safe and not harmful to plants, animals or aquatic life when properly applied. The US and Europe have used it since the 1920’s as a road treatment.

Q. Is lignin toxic?

A. NO – It is harmless, no more toxic then sugar. Studies have shown that baking soda, Vitamin C and table salt are more toxic than lignin. The US Food and Drug Administration have approved it in many food contact uses. It is also approved for pelletizing and a binding aid in animal feeds.

Q. Are there any health benefits?

A. Roads where lignin has been applied for dust control can be beneficial in helping control asthma problems and other breathing issues irritated by road dust.

Q. How does Lignin work?

A. The Lignin mixture penetrates the road surface coating individual dust particles with a thin layer of binder. Water evaporates from the applied product as it dries and the dust particles are trapped by the naturally binding product. In addition, over time some of the lignin becomes completely insoluble due to solar heating.

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