Which water treatment additives does LigninCorp supply?
LigninCorp supplies additives that go into formulated water treatments for cooling towers, boilers, closed loops and industrial process water: a naphthalene sulfonate dispersant component (GAC-WT), sodium and calcium lignosulfonate for sludge and suspended-solids dispersion, and sodium gluconate as a chelating component. These are ingredients of a treatment programme, not complete treatments on their own. This page explains, system by system, where they fit; formulators will find blend details on the Industrial Water Treatment Dispersant page.
Which additives fit each water system?
| Water system | Main problems | Where our additives fit |
|---|---|---|
| Open recirculating cooling towers | Scale and fouling on heat exchangers as water concentrates; suspended silt and biological slime | Dispersant component (GAC-WT) in the scale/corrosion blend keeps solids and scale precursors suspended; sodium gluconate as a chelating component. |
| Low- and medium-pressure boilers | Hardness salts precipitating as sludge and tube deposits | Dispersant component in internal treatment keeps precipitated hardness dispersed so it leaves with blowdown; lignosulfonate for sludge conditioning in some programmes. |
| Closed cooling and heating loops | Corrosion products and iron oxide deposits; little make-up water | Corrosion inhibitors do most of the work; a dispersant is added where suspended iron or silt needs to be kept moving. |
| Industrial process water | Suspended solids settling in tanks, lines and spray systems | Auxiliary dispersant (GAC-WT or lignosulfonate) for suspended-solids control. |
How are the additives dosed?
Our water treatment dispersant (GAC-WT, a naphthalene sulfonate type) is a component of a formulated treatment, not a standalone scale inhibitor. It typically makes up 5–20% by weight of the finished water-treatment blend, alongside phosphonates, polymers or other actives. The field dose of the finished blend is set by the formulator from the water analysis. Ranges are typical starting points from our technical data sheets unless marked as published practice; the final dose is set by laboratory or plant trial.
| Product | Typical starting level | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water treatment dispersant (GAC-WT) | 5–20% of the finished blend | Dispersant component; ratio set by the formulator for the scale and fouling target. |
| Sodium lignosulfonate | Set by formulation trials | Used in some blends for sludge conditioning and suspended-solids dispersion. |
How to add it
- Formulate first: blend the dispersant with the scale and corrosion inhibitors at the chosen ratio and check stability of the concentrate.
- Dose the blend: feed the finished blend continuously to the cooling or boiler system at the rate set from the water analysis.
- Monitor: track scale, fouling and turbidity indicators and adjust the blend ratio or dose if they trend upward.
Points to check
Used alone, lignin and naphthalene sulfonate dispersants give only weak scale inhibition; their role is to keep particles and deposits suspended while other actives control scale and corrosion.
Trial checklist
- Stability of the formulated concentrate
- Dispersion of iron, silt or calcium deposits in jar or loop tests
- Compatibility with oxidizing biocides
- Discharge and local regulatory limits
What to agree with your water treatment supplier
- Water analysis: hardness, alkalinity, silica, iron, chloride, conductivity and pH of make-up and system water.
- Cycles of concentration (cooling) or operating pressure and blowdown rate (boiler).
- Which actives the programme uses for scale and corrosion, and the role of the dispersant in it.
- Target dose of the finished blend and how scale, fouling and corrosion will be monitored.
- Biocide programme, since oxidizing biocides must be compatible with the blend.
- Discharge limits and local regulations for treated water and blowdown.
Water Treatment Additive FAQs
Which water treatment additives does LigninCorp supply?
Dispersant components for formulated cooling and boiler water treatments (GAC-WT, a naphthalene sulfonate type), sodium and calcium lignosulfonate for sludge and suspended-solids dispersion, and sodium gluconate as a chelating component.
Can a dispersant be used on its own to stop scale?
No. Dispersants keep particles and precipitated hardness suspended, but scale and corrosion are controlled by the other actives in the blend, such as phosphonates and polymers. Used alone, a dispersant gives only weak scale inhibition.
How much dispersant goes into a water treatment blend?
Our water treatment dispersant typically makes up 5–20% by weight of the finished blend. The dose of the finished blend in the system is set by the treatment programme from the water analysis.
Where does sodium gluconate fit?
Sodium gluconate binds calcium and iron ions and is used as a chelating and corrosion-support component in cooling water and cleaning formulations. Its level in the blend is set by the formulator.
I am a formulator. Where are the blend details?
Blend ratios, compatibility with phosphonates and polyacrylates, and scale and slime dispersant selection are covered on the Industrial Water Treatment Dispersant page.
Technical content reviewed by the LigninCorp technical support team. Last updated: November 8, 2026.