Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate - SLES N70 Formulation Guide

SLES N70 is a concentrated grade of Sodium Laureth Sulfate, an anionic surfactant widely used in water-based cleansing systems. The designation N70 generally refers to a high-active paste containing approximately 70% surfactant matter. BASF's 2EO SLES N70 grade specifies approximately 68-73% Sodium Laureth Sulfate, while other commercial 2EO grades are similarly supplied near 70% active concentration.

SLES N70 grade is based on fatty alcohol ethoxylated with approximately two ethylene oxide units before sulfation and neutralisation. CAS 68891-38-3 describes Alcohols, C12-14, ethoxylated, sulfates, sodium salts, with EC/List No. 500-234-8. Because commercial SLES contains distributions of fatty-alcohol chain lengths and ethoxylation levels, it should not be presented as one exact molecular compound. A more technically suitable representation is R-(OCH₂CH₂)n-OSO₃Na, with n typically around 2 for a 2EO grade.

Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate - SLES N70 provides cleansing, wetting, detergency and foam generation in properly designed formulations. Its concentrated form allows formulators to adjust final surfactant concentration according to the finished product. Commercial 2EO grades are used in shampoos, body washes, liquid hand cleansers, dishwashing formulations, laundry detergents and industrial cleaning systems. Stepan describes its 70% active 2EO SLES as a flowable paste offering foaming, wetting and detergent properties.

Active matter alone should not be the only purchasing criterion for SLES N70. Depending on the intended application, formulators and buyers may also evaluate pH, colour, sodium sulfate, unsulfated matter, residual 1,4-dioxane, viscosity and physical appearance. Commercial N70 specifications vary by manufacturer, so a current TDS, SDS and batch Certificate of Analysis should be reviewed before approving a grade for production. A representative commercial SLES N70 specification, for example, lists around 70% active matter alongside limits for sodium sulfate, unsulfured matter, colour and 1,4-dioxane.