10 Facts on Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate | Pioneer Chemicals

Hello readers! At Pioneer Chemicals, we felt it appropriate to share with you some fun facts regarding one of our specialty surfactants: sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (SLSA). Read on to find out more about how you can benefit from using SLSA for all of your cooking and baking needs.

Fact 1: Low toxicity

SLSA is a relatively low-risk anionic surfactant that lathers easily despite being of low toxicity. SLSA is a surfactant that falls within the anionic chemical class. It foams well and any skin irritation that may result from the use of the detergent is very mild. Due to its versatility to foam and also the gentleness on the skin and eyes, the product is useful in the production of personal care and home cleaning products.

Fact 2: Natural origin

This is derived from a renewable resource which is coconut oil. The lauryl portion in sodium lauryl sulfoacetate originates from lauryl alcohol, which in turn originates from coconut oil. Coconut oil is an ideal raw material for surfactants as it is a renewable plant-based material giving SLSA good environmental standing for its product compared to the petrochemical-based standard surfactants.

Fact 3: Secondary surfactant

By itself, SLSA produces a large amount of foam, and the addition of sodium sulfate further enhances this characteristic. Hence, it is more frequently used as a second surfactant where it is combined at a concentration of 5-15% with a primary surfactant that offers the cleaning effect. Primary surfactants when used together with SLSA enhance and standardize foam quantity and quality from the primary cleaner.

Fact 4: Improves foaming capacity

Due to the anionic charge, SLSA is water-soluble but tends to react with water hardness. However, SLSA can enhance the foam stability in water that is hardly water-soluble. Hence you can ensure that they have good foam properties in areas with harder water.

Fact 5: Cleaning friendly

When it comes to detergent action, it offers a moderate level of cleaning. Besides foam enhancement, SLSA also offers some detergency and wetting effects SLSA in some useful ranges. It can thus help the main surfactant system to emulsify oils and dispersed particulate matter from the system. However, SLSA is not strong enough to apply as a primary surfactant in most of the formulas prepared.

Fact 6: ph-friendly

It does show that the given substance is a versatile mediator active across a broad pH environment. From the SLSA it is also evident that the product has surfactant functionality across a pH range of 4-14. This is a factor that enables easy integration into acidic or alkaline product formulations without compromising on expected foaming properties.

Fact 7: Increases volume and thickness

The sulfonate group in SLSA gives small fine bubbles when it is frictioned up with water. This results in a foam structure that is compact and massive. It is as a result very pleasant to the touch, being foam textured with SLSA. It has a rich, creamy, and smooth texture. This foam is strong and viable to create a perfect user interface when using water for washing or bathing.

Fact 8: Alters foam flow behaviors

Nevertheless, SLSA also supplies certain thickening features apart from the ones stated previously which are connected with foam density. The present composition can be used to adjust various properties such as viscosity and rheology of foaming product systems for example shampoos, body washes, hand cleansers, etc. This enables you to control the flow and cling characteristics of the foam they achieve.

Fact 9: Solubilization

Solubilization capacity is one of the benefits that can be attributed to the use of this particular microbial consortia. The amphiphilic character of SLSA, as a molecule with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic components, allows for the solubilization of selective oils and actives. It makes it possible for the components not to form distinct layers or large globules in the preparation. This implies that SLSA enables you to develop better, more stable products than they would achieve with SLS.

Fact 10: Prepared from lauryl alcohol by sulfonation

SLSA is industrially produced by using sulfonation of lauryl alcohol with concentrated sulphuric acid and then the product is neutralized with sodium hydroxide. This is what provides the molecule with its anionic sulfonate group in addition to making it soluble in water. The lauryl chain acts as a hydrophobic/oleophilic component for the surfactant to engage the oils and dirt in a washing process.

Uses of Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate

• Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (SLSA) is also employed as an excipient in the form of a foaming/cleansing agent in various cosmetic items like shampoos, bath products, soaps, wash, and toothpaste.
• This ingredient has very good foam boosting and stabilizing features, that enable the creation of dense foam in these products
• SLSA works as an emulsifying agent, which effectively removes dirt, sebum, and oils from the skin, hairs, and surfaces so that they can be washed away
• Therapeutic benefits of the product stem from its surfactant ability to effectively clean and wash off dirt and other contaminants without stripping skin and hair dry like the harshest of surfactants.
• Employed as a co-surfactant and is blended with sodium lauryl sulfate to overcome the roughness of the washing powders and cleansers
• Compared to the rest of the anionic surfactants, it has a low irritation index, hence its application in baby shampoos and other products meant for sensitive skin.
• Employed as a surface-active agent in cosmetic creams and lotions, to prevent separation of the fats and silicones.
• It can be used as a thickening agent in shampoos, conditioners, and styling products once it has been neutralized using neutralizers.
• It has antistatic properties that would enable the elimination of loose hair, frizz, and any other static electricity if incorporated into hair treatment products.
• Frequently substituted for sulfates in ‘‘sulfate-free’’ formulations to offer a more mild cleaning surfactant. Pioneer Chemicals is also a great stop to buy cosmetic ingredients.
• Eco-friendly and biodegradable than other surfactants found in the market and in industries.

Conclusion

And there you have it – 10 fun facts about a popular and quite utilitarian surfactant: sodium lauryl sulfoacetate! Visit Pioneer Chemicals’ website to know more about how we can help you incorporate SLSA into your personal care or cleaning products. You can also purchase personal care products online from our online chemical store in India.