 
Concentrated slurries – with (flowing) and without (thick) lignin dispersant.
While the nature of the dispersed systems varies, the function of the dispersing agent is always to control the interaction between fine particles, often solids, suspended in a second medium, often water.
Polymeric dispersing agents function by adsorbing at the surface of the suspended particle and thereby provide a protective layer that hinders particle attraction. Sulphonated lignins function as dispersing agents in this way. As anionic polyelectrolyte polymers, sulphonated lignins are prone to adsorption to a wide range of particle substrates. Consequently, one finds that sulphonated lignins can perform as polymeric dispersants in a diverse range of applications.
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