What is Sodium Laureth Ether Sulfate (SLES)?

Sodium laureth ether sulfate, or SLES, is one of the major surfactants and detergents with wide applications in personal care, household cleaning, and industrial uses. Being derived from fatty alcohols, SLES exhibits excellent properties as an emulsifier and cleaning agent, which is why it is widely used in shampoo, body wash, liquid soap, and detergent formulations. Its chemical makeup allows it to degrade oils and grease quite well and is gentle to the skin, adding to its popularity in consumer products.

Properties of SLES

• Excellent Foaming Agent: Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate produces rich and stable foam, even in the presence of oils and hard water, making it ideal for personal care and cleaning products.
• Effective Cleansing: It efficiently removes dirt, oil, and grease, ensuring a thorough cleaning performance in various applications.
• Water Solubility: Highly soluble in water, Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate is easy to incorporate into liquid formulations like shampoos, body washes, and detergents.
• Emulsifying Properties: Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate stabilizes mixtures of water and oils, enhancing the effectiveness of formulations like creams and lotions.
• Mild on Skin: Compared to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), SLES is gentler, reducing the risk of skin irritation, making it suitable for everyday use.
• Compatibility: It blends well with other surfactants and active ingredients, offering versatility in product formulations.
• Low Cost: SLES is cost-effective, balancing performance and affordability for manufacturers.

Various Grades of SLES

SLES 70%

• Description: This is the most concentrated form, typically containing around 70% active Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate.
• Applications: SLES 70% is used in personal care formulations such as shampoos and body washes, among others, owing to its good foaming and high cleaning power. It also finds wide use in household detergents and industrial cleaning agents.
• Benefits: The higher concentration makes it efficient in formulations requiring strong foaming and cleansing properties, while still being relatively gentle on the skin compared to SLS.

SLES 28%–30%

• Description: This grade is a more diluted form, containing around 28–30% active Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate.
• Applications: Due to its lower concentration, SLES 28%–30% is used in milder personal care products, especially those designed for sensitive skin, as well as in household cleaning solutions.
• Benefits: The dilution makes this grade less irritating, making it suitable for products targeting frequent or sensitive skin use.

SLES 25%

• Description: This is a further diluted grade with around 25% active Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate.
• Applications: It’s often chosen for products where mildness is a priority, such as baby shampoos, face washes, and sensitive skin formulations.
• Benefits: With even less potential for skin irritation, SLES 25% is ideal for gentle cleansers, providing a balance of cleansing without stripping the skin or hair of natural oils.

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SLES Application and usage

Personal Care Applications

Shampoos

• Such is Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate which has now become an indispensable ingredient in most shampoos due to its rich lather and high cleaning action on hair and scalp. Capable of removing dirt, oil, and product buildup, SLES has become an ingredient of choice if one is thinking of daily use or deep-cleaning shampoos.

Body Washes

•   The foaming property makes it the ideal agent for body wash due to its mild cleansing action that rejuvenates the skin. SLES can be utilized in skincare products to strip oily residue and dirt off the skin.

Bubble Baths

• Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate gives plenty of foam; for this reason, it is favored in bubble bath formulation. Its foaming action in a bath coupled with mild cleansing makes for a playful and pleasant experience.

Facial Cleansers

•  Though SLES can also be found in face cleansers, it’s less common there than in shampoos and body washes. Because it does not strip away the skin’s natural moisture while removing dirt and oil, this element is pretty much the right choice for certain skin types.

Toothpaste

•   Many kinds of toothpaste contain Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate to help in forming the foam, which makes brushing effective in cleaning the teeth. However, controversies have been witnessed about including it in toothpaste due to its irritation concerns to the gums.

Household Cleaning Applications

Dish Detergents

• Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate is one of the major base ingredients in formulating dish detergents, imparting the properties required for dealing with grease. It therefore makes the cleaning of dishes, cookware, and utensils efficient by applying significant cleaning action and emulsifying fats.

Laundry Detergents

• SLES finds application in laundry detergents because of their ability to remove dirt and stains. This surfactant property contributes to the breakdown of dirt and oil and is thus a factor of choice in general-purpose and heavy-duty laundry detergents.

Floor Cleaners

• Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate can be added as an active ingredient in floor cleaners for cleaning and sanitizing the floor. It works great in removing dirt, grime, and bacteria from the floors, countertops, and other hard surfaces.

All-Purpose Cleaners

The active ingredient is Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate, which can be incorporated into floor cleaners for cleaning and sanitizing the floor. It works great in removing dirt, grime, and bacteria from the floors, countertops, and other hard surfaces.

Industrial Applications

Textile Processing

• SLES also finds applications in textile treatment processes, including cleaning and scouring. As a surfactant, it cleans dirt, oil, and other contaminants off fabrics without touching their quality for a good-grade finished product.

Oilfield Chemicals

• SLES finds its application in oil field chemicals in drilling fluid additives and demulsifiers due to the surfactant action to improve the performance of the drilling fluid with higher separation between oil and water.

Benefits of SLES

• Excellent Foaming: SLES produces a rich and abundant lather, enhancing the cleaning experience.
• Effective Cleaning: Its surfactant properties help remove dirt, grease, and oil from surfaces.
• Emulsifying Properties: SLES can help stabilize emulsions, such as those found in some personal care products.
• Biodegradable: SLES is generally considered biodegradable, making it environmentally friendly.
• Cost-Effective: It’s a relatively inexpensive surfactant compared to some others.

PRODUCTION PROCESS of SLES

• Ethoxylation: Lauryl alcohol is reacted with ethylene oxide to form lauryl ether.
• Sulfation: Lauryl ether is treated with sulfur trioxide (SO₃) gas, converting it into lauryl ether sulfate.
• Neutralization: Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) neutralizes the lauryl ether sulfate, forming SLES.
• Purification: Impurities are removed, and concentration adjustments are made.
• Packaging: The final SLES product is prepared and packaged for distribution.

Packing of SLES

Sodium Laureth Ether Sulfate is either in liquid or powder form, depending on the form required by the application. The industrial grades of SLES are usually shipped in bulk in drums or intermediate bulk containers, IBCs. Proper labeling and following the safety standards are important during transport and storage.

Safety of SLES

• Avoid Direct Contact: Wear gloves and goggles when handling concentrated SLES to prevent skin and eye irritation.
• Ensure Ventilation: Work in a well-ventilated area to minimize inhalation of vapors or dust.
• Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): When handling, always wear appropriate PPE, including masks, gloves, and safety glasses.
• Store Safely: Keep SLES in a cool, dry place, away from heat and sunlight. Ensure containers are securely sealed and labeled.
• Handle Spills Carefully: Use absorbent materials to clean up spills and dispose of waste SLES according to local regulations.
• Conduct Sensitivity Testing: Test formulations for skin sensitivity, especially in products for sensitive skin.

SODIUM LAYURL ETHER SULFATE is versatile and one of the most used surfactants in personal care, cosmetic, and household cleaning formulations because of its excellent cleansing and foaming properties. This ingredient is generally effective, compatible, and moderately priced, hence its wide adoption in many formulations across industries.

TECHNICAL DATA SHEET OF SODIUM LAURYL ETHER SULFATE