What Is Sodium Laurilsulfate?
Sodium lauryl sulfate, also known as sodium laurilsulfate or SLS, is a chemical compound used in the form of detergent in number of common household products. These products can be related to beauty, home or even industrial applications. The compound is a mixture of sulfuric acid, monododecyl ester and sodium, and when exposed to too much heat, it emits poisonous fumes due to thermal disintegration.
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Chemical Structure
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SLS (C12H25SO4Na) is a surface-active agent used in many detergents. It consists of a tail of 12 carbon atoms which are attached to a sulfate group. In its pure state, this compound is very poisonous unless mixed in diluted concentrations. This surfactant is anionic (i.e., contains negative charge) in nature. Both sodium laurilsulfate and sodium lauryl ether sulfate are the esters (a class of organic fragrant compounds) of sulfuric acid. Another name given to SLS is sulfuric acid monodeodecyl ester sodium salt.
Uses
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SLS can be put into a bottle and then sold in the market with as a skin care product. It acts as a foaming or dispersal agent for skin care products and produces foam just like that formed in toothpaste or shampoos. Most of the household products like dishwashing soaps are made up of 50 percent SLS. It is also used in scrubbing solutions due to its grease fighting properties.
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Effects on Human Skin
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Sodium laurilsulfate is a detergent known to cause irritations and inflammation in skin. Prolonged exposure to sodium laurilsulfate can also cause irritation in human face. SLS can also worsen skin problems in people with chronic skin disease. It mainly affects the oral epithelial structure. Atopic skin is less susceptible against irritation to SLS.
Dangers of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
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Products prepared from sodium lauryl sulfate like shampoos, gels used for bathing and bathing bubbles are dangerous for skin and hair. However, SLS fulfills its role of cleansers required in garage floors, degreasers of engines, soaps to wash cars. Due to its corrosive nature, it is very reactive on surfaces containing greasy substances. It is a primary irritant for skin and is used in clinical testing.
Availability/Cost
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Sodium laurilsulfate is a synthetic chemical regulated as a pesticide. It is used all over the world for clinical testing as a primary skin irritant. It is very cheap and easily available. SLS is used in both small scale and large scale industries. .
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