Sodium laureth sulfate

Sodium laureth sulfate (CAS 9004-82-4), commonly abbreviated as AES or SLES, is an anionic surfactant produced by ethoxylation of lauryl alcohol followed by sulfation. It is commercially available under trade names such as Empicol ESB 3 and is supplied in varying ethoxylation grades, including sodium laureth-7 and sodium laureth-8 sulfate.

In personal care formulations, AES functions as a primary surfactant by reducing interfacial tension between oil and water phases, enabling stable emulsification and foam generation in shampoos and body washes. In textile and leather processing, it acts as a scouring and wetting agent, driving soil and grease removal from fiber surfaces through micellar solubilisation.

Sodium laureth sulfate is supplied as a liquid or solid and is subject to REACH registration requirements within the EU. Procurement teams should confirm ethoxylation degree and active matter content when specifying grades, as these parameters directly affect formulation performance and compliance with regional cosmetic regulations.