Surfactants - Anionic Available — Bulk Only

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

SLS
CAS 151-21-3 · Formula C12H25NaO4S · MW 288.38 g/mol

A high-foaming anionic surfactant — SLS cleanses, emulsifies and wets across personal-care, household and industrial formulations, and denatures proteins for SDS-PAGE in the lab.

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HS Code
3402.39
At a Glance
Material Family
Surfactants - Anionic
Record Type
Pure compound
Primary Role
Cleaning / Degreasing · Surfactancy
Functional Roles
SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE
CLEANSINGDENATURANTFOAMINGSURFACTANT - CLEANSINGSURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING
Applications & Use Cases
  • Cleansing & foaming agent: primary surfactant in personal care and cleaners
  • Emulsifier: emulsion polymerization and formulation
  • Wetting & dispersing agent: textile and metal processing
  • Laboratory reagent: protein denaturation for SDS-PAGE
Physical Properties
Melting Point
399 to 207 °C
Density
> 1.1 at 20 °C
Solubility
< 1 mg/mL at 19 °C
Safety & Handling
Full SDS available on request

A grade-specific Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — with the complete hazard classification, handling precautions, and transport information — is supplied with every shipment and available on request. Confirm all safety and regulatory details against the SDS for your specific grade.

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HS / Tariff Classification
Harmonized System (HS) Code — 6-digit international heading
3402 . 39
Chapter 34
Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing and lubricating preparations, waxes
Heading 34.02
Internationally harmonized (WCO HS)
Subheading 3402.39
6-digit international code — national tariff line adds further digits
Chemical Identity
CAS Number
151-21-3
Molecular Formula
C12H25NaO4S
Molecular Weight
288.38 g/mol
IUPAC Name
sodium dodecyl sulfate
INCI Name
SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE
PubChem CID
InChI Key
DBMJMQXJHONAFJ-UHFFFAOYSA-M
Synonyms & Trade Names
Sodium dodecyl sulfate SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE Sodium dodecylsulfate Sodium lauryl sulphate Sodium dodecyl sulphate Sodium n-dodecyl sulfate Dodecyl sodium sulfate Anticerumen Duponal Gardinol Neutrazyme Perlandrol L Perlankrol L Sintapon L Finasol osr2 Stepanol methyl Stepanol wac Stepanol waq Stepanol me dry
Full Description

Sodium lauryl sulfate is a high-foaming anionic surfactant that acts as an emulsifier, wetting and dispersing agent. It is a primary cleansing and foaming ingredient in personal-care products, household and industrial cleaners and degreasers, and it serves as an emulsifier in emulsion polymerization and a wetting agent in textile and metal processing. In the laboratory it denatures proteins for electrophoretic separation (SDS-PAGE).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the common name for sodium lauryl sulfate?

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS, CAS 151-21-3) is also known as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and as sodium dodecyl/lauryl sulphate. It is an anionic surfactant with the formula C12H25NaO4S. RawSource supplies it as a foaming and cleansing surfactant base.

What is sodium lauryl sulfate used for?

SLS is a high-foaming anionic surfactant used in shampoos, toothpastes, household detergents, and industrial cleaners, and as a wetting and emulsifying agent. It is also widely used as a laboratory reagent. RawSource supplies it as a surfactant base for personal-care and cleaning formulations.

What is the difference between sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate?

SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) is the non-ethoxylated alkyl sulfate; sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) is the ethoxylated ether sulfate carrying EO groups. SLES is generally milder-foaming and more soluble in dilute systems. Confirm the exact identity and grade against the CoA.

What forms and grades of SLS does RawSource supply?

SLS is available as needle/powder solids and as aqueous solutions (commonly around 30% active for liquid grades); grade and active content vary by source. RawSource supplies bulk bags, drums, totes, and IBCs. Request a CoA to confirm form, active content, and specifications.

What is the cost of bulk sodium lauryl sulfate and how do I order?

Bulk pricing depends on grade, form (solid vs. liquid), volume, and packaging. RawSource quotes per-load pricing for drums, totes, IBCs, and pallet quantities. Contact us with your grade and volume for a current bulk quote and CoA/SDS.

Disclaimer. Information on this page — including properties, identifiers, hazard, transport (DOT/UN) and tariff (HS) classifications, and applications — is provided for general reference and is compiled from authoritative public sources (e.g. PubChem/ECHA, 49 CFR 172.101, the Harmonized Tariff Schedule). Values are typical and are not a guaranteed specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot purchased governs. Products are sold for industrial and professional use only. Nothing here is a medical, health, or efficacy claim or advice. Always consult the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before handling, storage, transport or disposal, and confirm regulatory status, classification and suitability for your application and jurisdiction. Hazard, transport and tariff classifications must be verified for your specific shipment. RawSource makes no warranty, express or implied, and assumes no liability for use of this information. Trademarks. Third-party trademarks and brand names are the property of their respective owners; any reference is nominative — used only to identify a comparable product — and does not imply affiliation with, sponsorship by, or endorsement by the trademark owner.