Assessing metal-lignosulfonates as fertilizers using gel filtration chromatography and high-performance size exclusion chromatography.

Lignosulfonates (LSs) are by-products from the paper industry used as biodegradable fertilizers. However, metal-LS ability to provide micronutrients to crops is related to the stability of the complex and the amount of metal complexed. This work evaluated these parameters using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), along with gel filtration chromatography (GFC) and high-performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), for different spruce, eucalyptus, and pine LSs. GFC and HPSEC pointed out that the amount and type of complexed metal in the LS depends on the molecular weight, pH, and sulphite pulping processes. Both techniques indicated that the low molecular weight LS enriched with phenolic groups has the highest Fe(III) complexing capacity. Also, Fe(III)/LS showed the formation of high molecular weight compounds, whereas Zn(II)/LS and Mn(II)/LS complexes did not form aggregates. Metal-LS fractionation provided considerable information to identify LSs with potential fertilizer capacity and to assess the effectiveness of their complexes.