Sodium laureth sulfate

Not to be confused with Sodium lauryl sulfate. For the Loud Family song, see Interbabe Concern.

Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), an accepted contraction of sodium lauryl ether sulfate, 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.

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
CAS Number	sodium laureth-2 sulfate: 3088-31-1 Y sodium laureth-3 sulfate: 13150-00-0 Y sodium laureth-5 sulfate: 9004-82-4 Y
Abbreviations	SLES
ChemSpider	sodium laureth-2 sulfate: none
ECHA InfoCard	100.036.281
PubChem CID	23665884 (sodium 2-dodecoxyethyl sulfate)
UNII	sodium laureth-2 sulfate: ZZQ59TY3KG N sodium laureth-3 sulfate: BPV390UAP0 N sodium laureth-5 sulfate: 410Q7WN1BX N
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	sodium laureth-2 sulfate: DTXSID2029298 DTXSID70274019, DTXSID2029298
Properties
Chemical formula	CH3(CH2)11(OCH2CH2)nOSO3Na
Molar mass	Variable; typically around 421 g/mol (288.38 + 44.05n) g/mol
Hazards
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)	2 1 0
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

The chemical formula for this family of surfactants is CH₃(CH₂)₁₁(OCH₂CH₂)_nOSO₃Na. 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 (CH₃(CH₂)₁₁OSO₃Na), 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

SLS does not induce any "adverse responses in any toxicol. testing". SLS is a skin and eye irritant but not a sensitizer.^[7]

See also

• Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate
• Sodium dodecyl sulfate
• Sodium myreth sulfate
• Sodium pareth sulfate
• Magnesium laureth sulfate
• Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate
• 1,4-Dioxane, a common impurity of SLES