SODIUM TRIDECETH SULFATE- ▸ Personal care: Foaming surfactant in cleansing formulations.
- ▸ Household cleaning: Anionic surfactant in liquid cleaners.
- ▸ Wetting agent: Lowers surface tension in aqueous systems.
- ▸ Detergency: Removes oils and soils in cleaning systems.
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.
Request SDS →Sodium trideceth sulfate (STS; INCI Sodium Trideceth Sulfate; CAS 25446-78-0) is an anionic surfactant — the sodium salt of a sulfated, ethoxylated branched tridecyl (C13) alcohol. It is a high-foaming primary cleansing surfactant in the same family as sodium laureth sulfate, but its branched chain gives good water solubility, a low cloud point and cold stability. It is used as the workhorse foamer/detergent in personal-care and household cleaning systems.
What is sodium trideceth sulfate?
STS is an ether sulfate: a branched C13 (tridecyl) alcohol ethoxylated with a few ethylene-oxide units, then sulfated and neutralized to the sodium salt. The ethoxylate softens the harshness of a plain alkyl sulfate, and the branched chain keeps it soluble and clear in cold and hard water. The result is a strong, stable foamer and detergent.
Applications by sector
Personal care. A primary cleansing and foaming surfactant in shampoos, body washes, facial and hand cleansers, and bubble baths, often paired with co-surfactants and amphoterics for mildness and viscosity. Household & industrial cleaning. A foaming detergent and wetting agent in dishwash, hard-surface and general cleaners. Process. A surfactant for emulsion polymerization and industrial wetting. Match the active level and the surfactant blend to the foam, mildness and viscosity you need.
Forms and grades
Supplied as an aqueous solution at a stated active concentration. Specify the active level and any 1,4-dioxane/low-residual grade requirement on the RFQ; the CoA documents the lot.
Handling and documentation
Each lot ships with a Certificate of Analysis (CoA); request the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for handling and physical-property data.
Bulk supply and RFQ
RawSource supplies sodium trideceth sulfate in bulk to personal-care and cleaning formulators, with CoA and SDS per lot. Submit an RFQ with your active level and target quantity. See beauty & personal care.
Typical Properties
Typical reference values, not a specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot governs.
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| INCI Name | Sodium Trideceth Sulfate |
| CAS Number | 25446-78-0 |
| Chemical type | Anionic surfactant — sodium salt of sulfated ethoxylated tridecyl (C13) alcohol |
| Appearance | Clear to slightly hazy aqueous solution |
| Solubility | Water-soluble |
| Character | High-foaming primary surfactant; good cold/hard-water solubility (branched chain) |
| Flammability / handling | Refer to the current SDS |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sodium trideceth sulfate used for?
Sodium trideceth sulfate (STS, CAS 25446-78-0) is an anionic surfactant used as a primary foaming and cleansing agent in shampoos, body washes and cleansers, and as a foaming detergent and wetting agent in household and industrial cleaning.
How is sodium trideceth sulfate different from sodium laureth sulfate?
Both are ether-sulfate anionic surfactants; STS is built on a branched C13 alcohol rather than the C12-based laureth, which gives it good solubility, a low cloud point and better cold/hard-water clarity. Foaming and detergency are comparable.
Is sodium trideceth sulfate water soluble?
Yes — it is supplied as a water-soluble aqueous solution and is the water phase’s primary foamer/detergent in a formulation.
What is the CAS of sodium trideceth sulfate?
It is CAS 25446-78-0. As an ethoxylate/sulfate it is a defined-average material supplied at a stated active level; the CoA documents active content and grade.
How is bulk sodium trideceth sulfate supplied and quoted?
RawSource supplies it as an aqueous solution in bulk with CoA and SDS per lot. Pricing is quote-based on active level and volume; submit an RFQ with your target quantity and ship-to.
Disclaimer. Information on this page — including chemical 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). Values are typical and are not a guaranteed specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot you purchase 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.