Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate (SLES)
Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulphate (SLES) is an anionic surfactant derived from ethoxylated lauryl alcohol. It is one of the most widely used raw materials in the formulation of detergents, personal care, and cleaning products due to its excellent foaming, emulsifying, and cleansing properties. SLES is known for being highly effective at low concentrations, easily soluble in water, and relatively mild.
Synonyms
Disodium sulfate ; Sulfuric acid disodium salt ; Sulfate of Soda ; Glauber Salt (though this typically refers to the decahydrate form, it can sometimes be used to describe the anhydrous form as well) ; Anhydrous Sodium Sulfate
Formula
C₁₂H₂₅(OCH₂CH₂)ₙOSO₃Na
CAS No
68585-34-2
HS Code
34021190
Industries Served
- Personal Care and Cosmetics
- Household Cleaning Products
- Agriculture Industry
- Automotive Industry
- Textile Industry
- Oil and Gas Industry
- Paper and Pulp Industry
- Pharmaceutical Industry
Applications
- Primary ingredient in many shampoos.
- Used in body washes, liquid soaps, and hand sanitizers.
- Found in facial cleansers.
- Used in dishwashing liquids.
- Used in liquid laundry detergents.
- Used as an emulsifier and surfactant in pesticide and herbicide formulations.
- Used in the processing of fabrics, including in washing and dyeing processes to remove impurities.
- Used in drilling fluids.
- Used in the paper and pulp industry to aid in the cleaning of paper machinery.
- Used in various cosmetic products beyond personal care.
