Sodium laureth sulfate
Sodium laureth sulfate is an anionic surfactant made by ethoxylating lauryl alcohol (usually a C12-14 cut from coconut, palm kernel or petrochemical sources) with an average of one to three ethylene oxide units, then sulfating and neutralizing with sodium hydroxide. It is the main foaming agent in many shampoos, body washes and liquid soaps. Brands buy it as a roughly 25 to 28% solution or as a 70% paste, usually with an average of 2 or 3 moles of ethylene oxide.
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Pumpable, preserved solution in drums or totes for direct use in washes.
High-active gel paste that costs less to ship but needs dilution with care to avoid gel phases.
Sold as SLES-1, SLES-2 and SLES-3 (average moles of ethylene oxide), which changes foam, viscosity response and solubility.
Grades made and stripped to meet low 1,4-dioxane specifications, for markets with limits on that by-product.
Palm kernel-based grades under mass-balance or segregated certified supply.
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
Store SLES solution closed at 5 to 35 °C and away from freezing; cold material can haze or gel and is mixed after warming. Keep paste drums sealed to prevent skinning and contamination. Shelf life follows the supplier's specification, with a retest of active matter, pH and micro for older stock.
Active matter, salt and 1,4-dioxane levels vary by lot, so record all three for each lot and adjust salt additions to hit target viscosity. Rotate liquid stock FIFO because preservative levels are set for a limited time.
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists sodium laureth sulfate (common names include sodium lauryl ether sulfate, CAS 3088-31-1) with non-medicinal purposes of cleansing and emulsifying surfactant.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)The same database entry restricts it to topical or dental use when formulated to be non-irritating, citing CIR.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
Manufacturer · Navi Mumbai, India
Indian producer of surfactants and specialty care ingredients, including sulfates, mild amino-acid and glucoside surfactants, emollient esters and UV filters for personal and home care.
Suppliers are in alphabetical order and none pays to appear. Each claim is checked against the supplier’s own website on the date shown. Ask for the specification sheet and a recent COA before you order, and confirm details with the supplier.
Common forms include liquid (about 25 to 28% active), paste (about 70% active), degree of ethoxylation, low-dioxane grades and rSPO-certified. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
Expect active matter, 1,4-Dioxane, unsulfated matter and sodium sulfate, sodium chloride, pH and microbiology and preservative, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
Store SLES solution closed at 5 to 35 °C and away from freezing; cold material can haze or gel and is mixed after warming. Keep paste drums sealed to prevent skinning and contamination. Shelf life follows the supplier's specification, with a retest of active matter, pH and micro for older stock.
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists sodium laureth sulfate (common names include sodium lauryl ether sulfate, CAS 3088-31-1) with non-medicinal purposes of cleansing and emulsifying surfactant. The same database entry restricts it to topical or dental use when formulated to be non-irritating, citing CIR.
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