Back to Ingredient Dictionary

Common Name(s): Calcium lignosulfonate,lignosulfonate calcium,wood pulp lignosulfonate ca

CAS Number: 8061-52-7

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Helps ingredients disperse evenly in water-based products and can help hold compressed powder formulas together.

Why It's Used: Used as a natural-origin dispersant in water-based and powder formulations; derived from sustainable wood pulp processing.

How It Works: Lignosulfonate polymers adsorb onto particle surfaces through phenolic aromatic groups; sulfonate charges create electrostatic stabilization; calcium counterion provides bridging flocculation control.

Typically Found In: Dispersant systems,powder formulations,binders,industrial cosmetic manufacturing

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Functional ingredient โ€“ binding agent

Secondary Functions: Dispersing,surfactant

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%โ€“2%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Conditional - supplier confirmation required

Halal Status: Unverified - supplier confirmation required

Source Notes: Natural byproduct of wood pulp (lignocellulosic biomass) sulfonation during paper manufacturing; renewable origin. [audit 2026-07-29 rev2: the record's own source_notes does not assert a non-animal origin, or instructs the reader to verify with the supplier; "yes" asserts knowledge the record does not hold. determination requires shariah-panel sign-off.]

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ€“ very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ€“ non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Generally non-irritating. plant-derived natural origin.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Good safety profile. ewg score: 1โ€“2.

Works Well With: Inorganic pigments,powders,water-based systems

Avoid Combining With: Avoid with cationic ingredients (charge neutralization potential)

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Lignosulfonates are aromatic polyelectrolytes derived from lignin, the second most abundant natural polymer; calcium form has moderate water solubility and is used as an economic natural-origin dispersant.

Last Verified: 2026-03-27

Primary Sources: Cosing database,inci dictionary,cas 8061-52-7