Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (70%) - Malaysia

Brief Overview

SLES 70% is a high-performance anionic surfactant, ideal for personal care products like shampoos and handwashes, and essential in toothpaste for its excellent foaming. With a 70% concentration, this colorless to pale yellow paste ensures reliable performance in diverse formulations.

Manufacturing Process

SLES is produced on the basis of lauryl alcohol (dodecanol), which in turn is obtained from vegetable lauric oils. Laurin oils can be extracted from palm kernel oils or coconut oil. Palm kernel oils account for about 80% of the fatty alcohols and surfactants produced from them, while the remaining 20% are attributed to coconut oil.The manufacturing process is as follows:
- Dodecanol is obtained by hydrogenating the fatty acids and fatty acid esters from palm kernel and coconut oil and then working up the reaction mixture.
- SLES is produced by reacting dodecanol with ethylene oxide. The number of oxyethylene units is usually about 2.
- Sulphur trioxide is then used for sulphation.
- A by-product of this process is 1,4-dioxane, which is harmful to health. The end product with two oxyethylene units, sodium 2-(2-dodecyloxyethoxy)ethyl sulphate, is considered irritating to the skin and eyes.

Personal care:
As a key ingredient in liquid shampoos, bubble baths, shower gels, and handwashing agents due to its excellent cleaning, emulsifying, and foaming properties. It is also utilized in toothpaste production for its effective foaming and easy dilution characteristics.

Household cleaning:
SLES 70% is essential in the formulation of liquid detergents and dishwashing detergents, providing superior cleaning and foaming performance. Its applications extend to the industrial sector, where it acts as an effective cleaner in plating, leather, textile, printing, and dyeing processes.