Editing Sodium laureth sulfate

{{cs1 config|name-list-style=vanc}}
{{Distinguish|text=[[Sodium lauryl sulfate]]. For the Loud Family song, see [[Interbabe Concern]]}}
{{chembox
| Verifiedfields = changed
| Watchedfields = changed
| verifiedrevid = 477002177
| Name = Sodium laureth sulfate
| ImageFile = Sodium laureth sulfate structure.svg
| ImageSize = 250px
| IUPACName = α-Sulfo-ω-(dodecyloxy)-poly(oxyethane-1,2-diyl), sodium salt
| OtherNames = Sodium lauryl ether sulfate<br />Sodium laureth sulphate<br />Sodium dodecyl polyoxyethylene sulfate<br />Sodium lauryl polyoxyethylene sulfate<br />Sodium lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate<br />Sodium lauryl dioxyethylene sulfate<br />Sodium lauryl trioxyethylene sulfate<br />Sodium laureth-2 sulfate<br />Sodium laureth-3 sulfate
|Section1={{Chembox Identifiers
| index_label = sodium laureth-2 sulfate
| index1_label = sodium laureth-3 sulfate
| index2_label = sodium laureth-5 sulfate
| Abbreviations = SLES
| CASNo_Ref = {{cascite|correct|CAS}}
| CASNo = 3088-31-1
| CASNo1_Ref = {{cascite|correct|CAS}}
| CASNo1 = 13150-00-0
| CASNo2_Ref = {{cascite|correct|CAS}}
| CASNo2 = 9004-82-4

| UNII_Ref = {{fdacite|changed|FDA}}
| UNII = ZZQ59TY3KG
| UNII1_Ref = {{fdacite|changed|FDA}}
| UNII1 = BPV390UAP0
| UNII2_Ref = {{fdacite|changed|FDA}}
| UNII2 = 410Q7WN1BX

| PubChem3 = 23665884
| PubChem3_Comment = (sodium 2-dodecoxyethyl sulfate)
| SMILES =
| ChemSpiderID_Ref = {{chemspidercite|changed|chemspider}}
| ChemSpiderID = none
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|Section2={{Chembox Properties
| Formula = CH<sub>3</sub>(CH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>11</sub>(OCH<sub>2</sub>CH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>n</sub>OSO<sub>3</sub>Na
| MolarMass = Variable; typically around 421&nbsp;g/mol<br />(288.38 + 44.05n) g/mol
| Density =
| MeltingPt =
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|Section3={{Chembox Hazards
| NFPA-H = 2
| NFPA-F = 1
| NFPA-R = 0
 }}
}}

'''Sodium laureth sulfate''' ('''SLES'''), an accepted contraction of '''sodium lauryl [[ether]] sulfate''', also called sodium alkylethersulfate, is an [[anion]]ic [[detergent]] and [[surfactant]] found in many personal care products ([[soap]]s, [[shampoo]]s, [[toothpaste]], etc.) and for industrial uses. SLES is an inexpensive and very effective [[foaming agent]].<ref name="Ullmann">Kurt Kosswig,"Surfactants" in ''Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry'', Wiley-VCH, 2005, Weinheim. {{doi|10.1002/14356007.a25_747}}</ref> SLES, [[sodium lauryl sulfate]] (SLS), [[ammonium lauryl sulfate]] (ALS), and [[sodium pareth sulfate]] are [[surfactant]]s that are used in many cosmetic products for their cleaning and emulsifying properties. It is derived from [[palm kernel oil]] or [[coconut oil]]. In herbicides, it is used as a surfactant to improve absorption of the herbicidal chemicals<ref>{{cite web|title=Safety Data Sheet Bayer FINALE Herbicide|url=https://www.environmentalscience.bayer.co.uk/~/media/PRFUnitedKingdom/Product%20MSDS/Finale%20150.ashx|access-date=August 20, 2021|website=Bayer Environmental Sciences UK|archive-date=21 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821220417/https://www.environmentalscience.bayer.co.uk/~/media/PRFUnitedKingdom/Product%20MSDS/Finale%20150.ashx|url-status=dead}}</ref> and reduces time the product takes to be rainfast, when enough of the herbicidal agent will be absorbed.

Its chemical formula is {{chem2|auto=1|CH3(CH2)11(OCH2CH2)_{''n''}OSO3Na}}. Sometimes the number represented by ''n'' is specified in the name, for example laureth-2 sulfate. The product is heterogeneous in the number of [[Alkoxy group|ethoxyl groups]], where ''n'' is the mean. Laureth-3 sulfate is the most common one in commercial products.

== Production ==
SLES is prepared by [[ethoxylation]] of [[Dodecanol|dodecyl alcohol]], which is produced industrially from [[palm kernel oil]] or [[coconut oil]]. The resulting ethoxylate is converted to a [[organosulfate|half ester of sulfuric acid]], which is [[Neutralization (chemistry)|neutralized]] by conversion to the [[sodium]] [[salt (chemistry)|salt]].<ref name=Ullmann /> The related surfactant [[sodium lauryl sulfate]] or SLS (also known as sodium dodecyl sulfate or SDS) is produced similarly, but without the ethoxylation step. SLS and [[ammonium lauryl sulfate]] (ALS) are commonly used alternatives to SLES in consumer products.<ref name=Ullmann/>

== Safety ==
Tests in the US indicate that it is safe for consumer use. The Australian government's [[Department of Health and Ageing]] and its [[National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme]] (NICNAS) have determined that SLES does not react with DNA.<ref name="NICNAS">{{cite web |url=http://www.nicnas.gov.au/chemical-information/imap-assessments/imap-group-assessment-report?assessment_id=177 |title=NICNAS SLES animal test |access-date=3 November 2013 |archive-date=26 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626030210/https://www.nicnas.gov.au/chemical-information/imap-assessments/imap-group-assessment-report?assessment_id=177 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Irritation ===
Like many other [[detergent]]s, SLES is an [[irritation|irritant]].<ref name="Final Report">{{cite journal| title = Final report on the safety assessment of sodium laureth sulfate and ammonium laureth sulfate | journal = Journal of the American College of Toxicology | year = 1983 | volume = 2 | issue = 5 | pages = 1–34 | doi = 10.3109/10915818309140713 | s2cid = 208502361 }}</ref> It has been shown that SLES causes eye or skin irritation in experiments conducted on animals and humans.<ref name="Final Report" /> The related surfactant SLS is also a known irritant.<ref name="Agner_T">{{cite journal|author=Agner T |title=Susceptibility of atopic dermatitis patients to irritant dermatitis caused by sodium lauryl sulphate |journal=Acta Dermato-Venereologica |volume=71 |issue=4 |pages=296–300 |year=1991 |doi=10.2340/0001555571296300 |pmid=1681644|s2cid=37806228 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="A._Nassif_1994">{{cite journal|vauthors=Nassif A, Chan SC, Storrs FJ, Hanifin JM |title=Abnormal skin irritancy in atopic dermatitis and in atopy without dermatitis |journal=Archives of Dermatology |volume=130 |issue=11 |pages=1402–7 |date=November 1994 |pmid=7979441 |doi=10.1001/archderm.130.11.1402}}</ref><ref name="Allergic_Contact_Dermatitis">{{cite journal|vauthors=Magnusson B, Gilje O |title=Allergic contact dermatitis from a dish-washing liquid containing lauryl ether sulphate |journal=Acta Dermato-Venereologica |volume=53 |issue=2 |pages=136–40 |year=1973 |doi=10.2340/0001555553136140 |pmid=4120956|s2cid=9398646 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Shampoo_Dermatitis">{{cite journal|vauthors=Van Haute N, Dooms-Goossens A |title=Shampoo dermatitis due to cocobetaine and sodium lauryl ether sulphate |journal=Contact Dermatitis |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=169 |date=March 1983 |pmid=6851541 |doi=10.1111/j.1600-0536.1983.tb04348.x|s2cid=42092578 }}</ref>

=== 1,4-Dioxane contamination ===
Products containing SLES can be contaminated with up to 300 ppm of [[1,4-Dioxane#Cosmetics|1,4-dioxane]], a by-product of SLES production. 1,4-Dioxane is classified by the [[International Agency for Research on Cancer]] as a [[Group 2B carcinogen]]: ''possibly carcinogenic to humans''. The [[United States Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) recommends that these levels be monitored,<ref name="Occurrence_Dioxane">{{cite journal|vauthors=Black RE, Hurley FJ, Havery DC |title=Occurrence of 1,4-dioxane in cosmetic raw materials and finished cosmetic products |journal=Journal of AOAC International |volume=84 |issue=3 |pages=666–70 |year=2001 |doi=10.1093/jaoac/84.3.666 |pmid=11417628|doi-access=free }}</ref> and encourages manufacturers to remove 1,4-dioxane, though it is not required by federal law.<ref name="FDA_Dioxane">FDA/CFSAN--Cosmetics Handbook Part 3: Cosmetic Product-Related Regulatory Requirements and Health Hazard Issues. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080115201046/http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-hdb3.html Prohibited Ingredients and other Hazardous Substances: 9. Dioxane]</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate]]
* [[Sodium dodecyl sulfate]]
* [[Sodium myreth sulfate]]
* [[Sodium pareth sulfate]]
* [[Magnesium laureth sulfate]]
* [[Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate]]
* [[1,4-Dioxane]], a common impurity of SLES

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{CPID|id=8}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cosmetics chemicals]]
[[Category:Ethers]]
[[Category:Household chemicals]]
[[Category:Organic sodium salts]]
[[Category:Anionic surfactants]]
[[Category:Sulfate esters]]
[[Category:Dodecyl compounds]]