LIGNIN DERIVATIVES .3. SULFONATE ESTERS

Several ionic, and a new class of non-ionic ligninsulfonate ester products were prepared using simple chemistry that may be adapted for industrial scale-up. This chemistry produces little known derivatives of ligninsulfonates by homogeneous phase reaction. Ionic esters are prepared in formamide, they have greater degrees of substitution than are typically achieved with heterogeneous phase chemistry. Non-ionic ligninsulfonate esters are the product of the reaction of free sulfonic acids with oxirane-containing compounds in a non-aqueous solvent (isopropanol). Non-ionic ligninsulfonate esters are water-insoluble. thermoplastic polymer derivatives with unique properties.