Compositions and methods for dispersing complex scale based on elemental sulfur are provided. A method for dispersing elemental sulfur in acidic water includes providing water including elemental sulfur and adding from about 1 to about 100 parts by weight of a sulfur dispersion additive to the water based on one million parts by weight of the water to disperse the elemental sulfur in the water. The sulfur dispersion additive is chosen from a water soluble aromatic surfactant, a lignosulfonate, a naphthalene sulfonate, and combinations thereof.

Compositions and methods for dispersing complex scale based on elemental sulfur are provided. A method for dispersing elemental sulfur in acidic water includes providing water including elemental sulfur and adding from about 1 to about 100 parts by weight of a sulfur dispersion additive to the water based on one million parts by weight of the water to disperse the elemental sulfur in the water. The sulfur dispersion additive is chosen from a water soluble aromatic surfactant, a lignosulfonate, a naphthalene sulfonate, and combinations thereof.

Provided are a hollow spherical particle that has higher safety and can be prepared more easily. A hollow spherical particle that is a self-assembled body of lignin, the lignin having a content of -O-4 ether type structure of 50% or more and a solubility in 60 to 80% ethanol at 25 C. of 2 w/v % or more.

A suspension of a water soluble anionic polymer suspended as a solid in a nonaqueous carrier fluid includes at least about 20 wt % water soluble anionic polymer and less than about 5 wt % water. The water soluble anionic polymer may be an acrylate or methacrylate based homopolymer or copolymer polymerized with an acrylamide- or styrene-based monomer. The water soluble anionic polymer may be a naturally occurring biopolymer or derivative thereof such as lignosulfonate. Mixtures of more than one polymer may be used. The nonaqueous carrier fluid may comprise or consist essentially of mineral oil and/or an alcohol, ether or acetate derivative based on ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol. The suspension can be used for treating mineral slurries such as those generated in mining operations and generally for dispersing particles in aqueous solution.

A suspension of a water soluble anionic polymer suspended as a solid in a nonaqueous carrier fluid includes at least about 20 wt % water soluble anionic polymer and less than about 5 wt % water. The water soluble anionic polymer may be an acrylate or methacrylate based homopolymer or copolymer polymerized with an acrylamide- or styrene-based monomer. The water soluble anionic polymer may be a naturally occurring biopolymer or derivative thereof such as lignosulfonate. Mixtures of more than one polymer may be used. The nonaqueous carrier fluid may comprise or consist essentially of mineral oil and/or an alcohol, ether or acetate derivative based on ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol. The suspension can be used for treating mineral slurries such as those generated in mining operations and generally for dispersing particles in aqueous solution.