Abstract: A method for preparing a polymerized alkali lignin material which comprises reacting an alkaline solution of alkali lignin obtained from an alkaline pulping process at a temperature between about 20.degree. C. to 90.degree. C. with between 5% to 80% by weight based on said alkali lignin of sodium persulfate at a pH of between about 7 to 12 for a sufficient time to form a polymerized alkali lignin. Optionally, the alkaline solution of alkali lignin may be oxidized for a period time sufficient to activate the alkali lignin prior to reacting the solution with sodium persulfate.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for production of acid soluble humates. Humic acid bearing ores are sulfoalkylated under alkaline conditions to produce high solids humic acid concentrates which are soluble at pH as low as 0.5 and in yields of at least 70 percent.

Abstract: A method for microencapsulating agriculturally active substances such as pesticides to provide improved resistance to environmental degradation, especially ultra-violet light. The method employs as the UV protectant lignosulfonates, such as sulfite lignin or sulfonated lignin, or alternately sulfonated lignite, sulfonated tannins, napthalene sulfonates or other related compounds in combination with a protein such as a high bloom gelatin to form a capsule wall. The capsule wall formed by the interaction of these components is durable and has an ultra-violet protectant as an integral part of its structure.

Abstract: A process for producing an oxidized lignosulfonate composition comprising admixing a lignosulfonate and nitric acid such that the amount of acid comprises from about 35% to about 100% by weight of dry solids of the lignosulfonate, and reacting said mixture for a time sufficient to form the oxidized lignosulfonate composition.

Abstract: Synthetic inorganic chemical fertilizers are treated with lignosulfonate to harden and provide anti-caking and anti-dusting properties to the fertilizer particles. The fertilizer/lignosulfonate mixture includes up to about 5.0% by weight lignosulfonate on fertilizer. An improved method of treating inorganic fertilizers with lignosulfonate is also disclosed.

Abstract: Synthetic inorganic chemical fertilizers are treated with lignosulfonate to harden and provide anticaking and anti-dusting properties to the fertilizer particles. The fertilizer/lignosulfonate mixture includes up to about 5.0% by weight lignosulfonate on fertilizer. An improved method of treating inorganic fertilizers with lignosulfonate is also disclosed.

Abstract: An additive for oil well drilling cement is provided by an azo lignosulfonate formed from the coupling of a diazonium salt made from sulfanilic acid or para-aminobenzoic acid and a lignosulfonate to provide an effective cement dispersant with low set time retardation.

Abstract: A hydrolyzed lignosulfonate-acrylonitrile graft copolymer matrix providing a slow release solubility to fertilizers. The hydrolysis of the graft copolymer of lignosulfonate and acrylonitrile may be carried out in the presence of an alkali in situ during the fertilizer manufacturing process or in a prehydrolysis step with subsequent use of the hydrolyzed copolymer in the fertilizer manufacturing process to provide a controlled release formulation for various fertilizers.

Abstract: A hydrolyzed lignosulfonate-acrylonitrile graft copolymer matrix providing a slow release solubility to fertilizers. The hydrolysis of the graft copolymer of lignosulfonate and acrylonitrile may be carried out in the presence of an alkali in situ during the fertilizer manufacturing process or in a prehydrolysis step with subsequent use of the hydrolyzed copolymer in the fertilizer manufacturing process to provide a controlled release formulation for various fertilizers.

Abstract: A hydrolyzed lignosulfonate-acrylonitrile graft copolymer matrix providing slow release solubility to urea fertilizer. The hydrolysis of the graft copolymer of lignosulfonate and acrylonitrile may be carried out in the presence of a caustic in situ during the urea prill manufacturing process or in a prehydrolysis step with subsequent use of the hydrolyzed copolymer in the urea prill manufacturing process to provide the controlled release formulation for urea.

Abstract: A high quality chrome lignosulfonate for use as an oil well drilling additive is produced from molecular weight and/or high carbohydrate containing spent sulfite liquor. The additive is obtained by adding boron prior to the oxidation of the lignosulfonate and complexing with chrome. The use of boron allows the raw material spent sulfite liquor source to be less pure and from a wide variety of wood.

Abstract: Improved drilling fluid additives or conditioners are obtained by oxidation of sulfonated lignin-containing materials with manganese dioxide and boron addition either before or after the oxidation step. The resulting manganese-boron lignosulfonates are more thermally stable and they are rheologically suitable as drilling fluid additives. Additional improvements in thermal stability and rheological properties are realized by complexing the manganese-boron lignosulfonates with a heavy metal cation, notably, iron, preferably used as ferrous sulfate.

Abstract: Drilling fluid additives are prepared by oxidation of sulfonated lignin-containing materials with manganese dioxide under highly acidic conditions to make manganese lignosulfonates. Additional improvements in the rheological properties of the additives may be obtained by complexing the manganese lignosulfonate so obtained with a heavy metal cation (preferably iron or copper), by, for example, addition of ferrous sulfate or ferric sulfate to the manganese lignosulfonate. These products show the requisite combination of rheological properties for a satisfactory drilling fluid additive or conditioner.

Abstract: A composition useful in supplemental oil recovery from subterranean geological formations which composition includes a lignosulfonate that has been reacted with a halocarboxylic acid in an aqueous alkaline medium; and the process of introducing this composition into subterranean formations and reservoirs for the purpose of recovering additional petroleum therefrom.

Abstract: Wells and like borings into the earth's surface, especially those for the production of petroleum and gas, are very well and efficaciously cemented with cement compositions or pastes containing, as their effective gel control and cement set retardation agent, an additive that is a resulfonated, alkaline oxidized, hydrolyzed, partially desulfonated lignosulfonate product.

Abstract: Asphalt emulsion conditioner compositions, derived from spent sulfite liquor lignosulfonates, and asphalt emulsions produced from such compositions are provided. The emulsions are of the slow-setting, anionic type and are further characterized by their ability to remain stable on storage although produced with equipment that generates a wide range of shearing forces. Such characteristics are imparted to the asphalt emulsions through the use of emulsion-conditioner compositions comprising a partially desulfonated lignosulfonate, preferably an anionic or nonionic emulsifying agent and, optionally, a thickener.

Abstract: This invention relates to lignosulfonate derivatives and alkali metal salts thereof derived from sulfite waste liquor that has been subjected to alkaline oxidation, hydrolysis and partial desulfonation with subsequent resulfonation; and followed by one or more addition and double decomposition and reactions thereof; as well as the method of cementing subterranean geological formations penetrated by well bores utilizing these additives in well cementing compositions.

Abstract: This invention relates to lignosulfonate derivatives and alkali metal salts thereof derived from sulfite waste liquor that has been subjected to alkaline oxidation, hydrolysis and partial desulfonation with subsequent resulfonation; and followed by one or more addition and double decomposition and reactions thereof; as well as the method of cementing subterranean geological formations penetrated by well bores utilizing these additives in well cementing compositions.

Abstract: Oil well cementing compositions and processes are produced using a high efficiency sulfoalkylated lignin retarder composition and modifications thereof to produce cement compositions without gelation problems, having high early strength and with precisely controllable setting time.

Abstract: Valuable new and widely used compositions of matter are comprised of products having enhanced solubility and increased dispersant and the like surfactant activity which products are resulfonated units of alkaline oxidized, hydrolyzed, partially desulfonated lignosulfonates.