Chemistry:Sodium laureth sulfate

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Not to be confused with Sodium lauryl sulfate. For the Loud Family song, see Interbabe Concern.
Sodium laureth sulfate
Names
IUPAC name
α-Sulfo-ω-(dodecyloxy)-poly(oxyethane-1,2-diyl), sodium salt
Other names
Sodium lauryl ether sulfate
Sodium laureth sulphate
Sodium dodecyl polyoxyethylene sulfate
Sodium lauryl polyoxyethylene sulfate
Sodium lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate
Sodium lauryl dioxyethylene sulfate
Sodium lauryl trioxyethylene sulfate
Sodium laureth-2 sulfate
Sodium laureth-3 sulfate
Identifiers
Abbreviations SLES
ChemSpider
  • sodium laureth-2 sulfate: none
  • 23665884 (sodium 2-dodecoxyethyl sulfate)
UNII
Properties
CH3(CH2)11(OCH2CH2)nOSO3Na
Molar mass Variable; typically around 421 g/mol
(288.38 + 44.05n) g/mol
Hazards
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondFlammability code 1: Must be pre-heated before ignition can occur. Flash point over 93 °C (200 °F). E.g. canola oilHealth code 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g. chloroformReactivity code 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
1
2
0
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references
Tracking categories (test):

Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), usually contracted as sodium laureth sulfate, and also called sodium alkylethersulfate, is an anionic detergent and surfactant found in many personal care products (soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, etc.) and for industrial uses. SLES is an inexpensive and very effective foaming agent.[1] SLES, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), and sodium pareth sulfate are surfactants that are used in many cosmetic products for their cleaning and emulsifying properties. It is derived from palm kernel oil or coconut oil. In herbicides, it is used as a surfactant to improve absorption of the herbicidal chemicals[2] and reduces time the product takes to be rainfast, when enough of the herbicidal agent will be absorbed.

The chemical formula for this family of surfactants is CH
3(CH
2)
11(OCH
2CH
2)
nOSO
3Na. Sometimes the number represented by n is specified in the name, for example laureth-2 sulfate. The product is however heterogeneous in that the number of ethoxyl groups, where n is the mean. Laureth-3 sulfate is the most common one in commercial products. Compared to the parent sodium lauryl sulfate (CH
3(CH
2)
11OSO
3Na), SLES is more surface-active owing to the presence of the ethoxy groups.[3]

Production

SLES is prepared by ethoxylation of dodecyl alcohol, which is produced industrially from palm kernel oil or coconut oil. The resulting ethoxylate is converted to a half ester of sulfuric acid, which is neutralized by conversion to the sodium salt.[1] The related surfactant sodium lauryl sulfate or SLS (also known as sodium dodecyl sulfate or SDS) is produced similarly, but without the ethoxylation step. SLS and ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS) are commonly used alternatives to SLES in consumer products.[1]

Environmental impacts

SLES is toxic to aquatic animals.[4][5] Low concentrations can cause severe effects and even death in fish.[6]

Safety

SLES does not induce any adverse responses in any toxicology testing. SLES is a skin and eye irritant but not a sensitizer.[7]

SLES may retain trace amounts of the probable human carcinogen 1,4-dioxane,[8] an unintended chemical by-product formed during the ethoxylation and subsequent sulfonation steps used to synthesize it. Since the presence of 1,4-dioxane was recognized, many manufacturers have implemented purification processes, such as vacuum and steam stripping, to reduce its concentration in finished products.[9][10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kurt Kosswig,"Surfactants" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH, 2005, Weinheim. doi:10.1002/14356007.a25_747
  2. ↑ "Safety Data Sheet Bayer FINALE Herbicide". https://www.environmentalscience.bayer.co.uk/~/media/PRFUnitedKingdom/Product%20MSDS/Finale%20150.ashx. 
  3. ↑ "Relationship of Structure to Properties of Surfactants. 13. Surface and Thermodynamic Properties of Some Oxyethylenated Sulfates and Sulfonates". The Journal of Physical Chemistry 90 (11): 2413–2418. 1986. doi:10.1021/j100402a032. 
  4. ↑ Inala, E. R., & Ikpesu, T. O. (2021). "Subacute Effects of Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate on Oxidative Enzymes and Liver Responses in Clarias gariepinus: Dose and Time-Dependent Effects". Communication in Physical Sciences 4. https://journalcps.com/index.php/volumes/article/view/518. 
  5. ↑ Bhattacharya, R., Chatterjee, A., Chatterjee, S., & Saha, N. C. (2021). "Acute toxicity and sublethal effects of sodium laureth sulfate on oxidative stress enzymes in benthic oligochaete worm, Tubifex tubifex". Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology 243. doi:10.1016/j.cbpc.2021.108998. PMID 33556537. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1532045621000259. 
  6. ↑ Caracciolo, A. B., Cardoni, M., Pescatore, T., & Patrolecco, L. (2017). "Characteristics and environmental fate of the anionic surfactant sodium lauryl ether sulphate (SLES) used as the main component in foaming agents for mechanized tunnelling". Environmental Pollution 226: 94–103. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2017.04.008. PMID 28411499. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0269749116328846. 
  7. ↑ Robinson, Valerie C.; Bergfeld, Wilma F.; Belsito, Donald V.; Hill, Ronald A.; Klaassen, Curtis D.; Marks, James G.; Shank, Ronald C.; Slaga, Thomas J. et al. (2010). "Final Report of the Amended Safety Assessment of Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Related Salts of Sulfated Ethoxylated Alcohols". International Journal of Toxicology 29 (4_suppl): 151S–161S. doi:10.1177/1091581810373151. PMID 20634505. 
  8. ↑ "Final Risk Evaluation for 1,4-Dioxane". US Environmental Protection Agency. 13 November 2024. https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/final-risk-evaluation-14-dioxane. 
  9. ↑ Mohr, Thomas K.G. (2020). "1,4-Dioxane Chemistry, Uses, and Occurrence". Environmental Investigation and Remediation. CRC Press. p. 94–95, 101. doi:10.1201/9780429401428-2. ISBN 978-0-429-40142-8. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9780429685781/chapters/10.1201/9780429401428-2. Retrieved 18 October 2025. 
  10. ↑ Bettenhausen, Craig A. (22 March 2020). "How companies are getting 1,4-dioxane out of home and personal care products". https://cen.acs.org/business/consumer-products/companies-getting-14-dioxane-home/98/i11. 



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