Docusate sodium

Docusate sodium (CAS 577-11-7), also known as DSS and approved as E480 in food applications, is an anionic surfactant used across pharmaceutical, food, and industrial sectors.

Where is Docusate sodium used?

• Pharmaceuticals: active ingredient in stool softener laxatives and wetting agent in tablet and capsule formulations to improve drug dissolution rates
• Food: emulsifier and dispersing aid in gelled desserts, cocoa-based mixes, and sugar confectionery
• Textile and paper processing: penetrant and wetting agent for uniform dye uptake and fiber saturation
• Industrial cleaning and degreasing: emulsifies oils and reduces foam in process water systems
• It lowers surface and interfacial tension, enabling emulsification, wetting, and dispersing.

Commercial specifications

• Liquid solution typically at 70% active content in water or ethanol