SLES 70% – 170 кг Барабан /IBC Тоте /Flexitank

Sodium Laureth Sulfate 70% (SLES 70%), supplied as a 170 kg drum, 1,000 kg IBC tote, or 22,000–24,000 kg flexitank, is a concentrated aqueous anionic surfactant paste manufactured by sulfation of ethoxylated C12–C14 fatty alcohol followed by sodium neutralization. The product identifier “SLES 70% – 170kg Drum /IBC Tote /Flexitank” is a logistics and specification designation rather than a discrete model number; it defines the active-matter concentration and the three bulk packaging modes used in industrial supply. The INCI name is Sodium Laureth Sulfate. CAS registry entries commonly assigned to this substance include 68585-34-2 and 68891-38-3, with the exact registration record depending on the C-chain distribution and average ethylene oxide mole number. The standard commercial grade is typically produced with an average ethylene oxide content of 2 mol per alcohol molecule. The 70% designation refers to the mass fraction of anionic surface-active matter determined by two-phase titration under ISO 2271. The product is a clear to slightly hazy, high-viscosity paste with a typical pH of 7.0–9.0 in a 5% aqueous solution under ISO 4316. Because the material is a concentrated paste rather than a freely pumpable liquid at ambient temperature, package selection and process heating are the primary variables in its manufacturing use.

What Are the Release Specifications and Incoming QC Requirements?

Incoming material control for SLES 70% typically verifies active matter, mineral sulfate, unsulfated matter, and aqueous pH. The release band for active matter is 69.0%–71.0%; values below 69% reduce the expected mass efficiency in formulations, while values above 71% may indicate insufficient neutralization water and can raise unloading viscosity. Sodium sulfate is controlled at ≤1.5% because higher levels contribute to an undesirable salt viscosity response and can reduce clarity in high-active liquid detergents. Unsulfated matter is controlled at ≤2.0% as free nonionic alcohol ethoxylate; this fraction affects foam performance and can function as an unintended solubilizer in fragrance and preservative systems. pH is specified as 7.0–9.0 for a 5% aqueous solution to maintain hydrolytic stability of the sulfate ester.

Residual 1,4-dioxane is not a universal release parameter because final compliance is controlled under the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 Annex II as an unavoidable trace contaminant; however, cosmetic-grade SLES 70% batches are typically supported by a supplier-validated headspace gas chromatographic determination. Published numerical limits for this specific packaging configuration are limited and must be confirmed against each batch certificate of analysis.

Drum, IBC Tote, and Flexitank Discharge Envelopes

Transfer of SLES 70% is viscosity-limited rather than pressure-limited. At 20 °C, the paste exhibits shear-thinning behaviour and can exceed 10,000 mPa·s at low shear; heating to 35–45 °C lowers apparent viscosity sufficiently for progressive cavity pumps and air-operated double-diaphragm pumps with 3–4 bar discharge pressure. Drum deliveries of 170 kg are typically discharged through a follower-plate drum pump or by heating the drum in a 40 °C hot room for 24–48 h. IBC totes of 1,000 kg are equipped with a 2 in bottom valve and are commonly placed on IBC heating blankets. The process limitation for IBC heating is the low thermal conductivity of the viscous paste; without recirculation, a temperature gradient of 5–10 °C between the wall and the centre can persist for several hours. Flexitank discharge of 22,000–24,000 kg is executed through a container-side unloading pump and a knife gate or pinch valve. The flexitank interior film must be positioned to drain toward the discharge throat; otherwise, heel retention of 1.5–2.0% of the nominal fill mass is possible. Published data for exact flexitank heel retention in SLES 70% service is limited.

Full-scale receiving records show that batch-to-batch apparent viscosity at 25 °C may vary by a factor of 2–3 among suppliers with identical active-matter release data. This variation is usually associated with differences in average ethylene oxide chain length, sodium sulfate content, and low-level short-chain ethoxylates. A receiving tank equipped with a slow-speed anchor agitator is not sufficient to homogenize undiluted SLES 70%; positive-displacement transfer and loop circulation are preferred. When the paste is transferred through long pipes, pressure drop should not be estimated from a single-point viscosity because the wall shear rate in transfer piping can be 10–100 s⁻¹, where the material may be 3–5 times less viscous than at low-shear spindle conditions.

In rinse-off personal care compounding, SLES 70% is normally let down to 25–30% active matter before entering the final batch. A 1,000 kg shampoo batch at 8% active SLES requires approximately 114 kg of SLES 70%. The paste is introduced into demineralized water at 35–40 °C under moderate agitation; high-shear dispersion above 1,500 rpm is avoided because air entrainment increases degassing time and can destabilize preservative systems dependent on oxygen-sensitive actives. After complete dispersion, the pH is adjusted with citric acid solution to 5.0–6.0. Sodium chloride is added only after dilution because the salt-thickening response is non-linear: 0.5–1.0 wt% sodium chloride can increase formulated body wash viscosity from approximately 500 mPa·s to above 5,000 mPa·s at 25 °C.

In mixed-surfactant systems, SLES 70% is commonly combined with cocamidopropyl betaine at active ratios of 2:1 to 4:1. Mixed micelle formation lowers the critical micelle concentration relative to SLES alone and shifts the salt-response peak; viscosity maxima often occur at lower sodium chloride loadings than in pure SLES. This interaction is why co-surfactant order of addition and batch temperature are controlled before salt addition. In liquid laundry detergents, SLES 70% is used at 1–4 wt% as-supplied, often with nonionic surfactants and anti-redeposition polymers. The concentrated paste contributes anionic stability in hard water and reduces the gel-phase tendency observed with concentrated linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid neutralized in situ.

When SLES 70% Replaces SLES 28% or SLS in Ambient-Temperature Blending

Substitution of SLES 70% for a 28% active solution changes the water mass balance and the order of addition. SLES 28% contains approximately 72% water; SLES 70% contains approximately 30% water. The concentrated paste therefore frees formulation water for additional actives but removes the dilution water that would otherwise be available for salt and polymer pre-mixes. In cold-process systems operating below 20 °C, direct addition of SLES 70% without preheating can form local high-viscosity regions that require extended mixing and may lead to incomplete neutralization if the pH adjuster is added before dispersion.

Compared with sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS, CAS 151-21-3), SLES 70% has lower protein denaturation tendency because of the ethoxylate spacer between the alkyl chain and sulfate head; this supports its selection in rinse-off products where lower surfactant aggressiveness is a formulation requirement. The operational trade-offs are higher cost per active kilogram and greater analytical burden for residual 1,4-dioxane control. Compared with sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, SLES 70% is liquid-processable and generates higher foam volume in a Ross-Miles test under ISO 696, but exact foam height depends on water hardness, test temperature, and co-surfactant ratio. Compared with linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid, SLES 70% is supplied pre-neutralized, so it does not require exothermic neutralization with sodium hydroxide in the mixing plant; however, its as-supplied viscosity is higher and its electrolyte tolerance can alter enzyme stability in liquid laundry detergent systems.

The Product Certificate Governs Regulatory Acceptance of SLES 70% Deliveries

SLES 70% shipped in drums, IBC totes, or flexitanks is accompanied by a batch certificate of analysis, a safety data sheet under REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, and where applicable, a REACH registration number for the substance or the supplier's importing entity. The product is classified under CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008; typical hazard communication includes eye irritation, with the exact classification depending on the mixture and impurity profile. Confirmation of food-contact or low-nitrosamine status lies outside the scope of this product introduction because those conditions are system-specific and require downstream formulation data. In EU cosmetics manufacturing, trace 1,4-dioxane is controlled under Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 Annex II as an unavoidable contaminant; its presence is not intentionally added and must be demonstrated absent or below technically achievable limits through supplier data or finished-product analysis. Downstream cosmetic manufacturers remain responsible for ISO 22716 GMP compliance, while the bulk surfactant itself is not a finished cosmetic product.

Closed containers of SLES 70% should be stored at 5–40 °C. Freezing is not recommended because the resulting inhomogeneity alters local active content and may lead to batch-to-batch variation when frozen product is partially thawed. Storage above 45 °C accelerates colour development and peroxide formation. Wetted-contact surfaces should be 316L stainless steel or high-density polyethylene; mild steel is avoided because iron residues promote oxidative colour shifts. The product is incompatible with concentrated cationic surfactants and cationic polymers; coacervate formation or precipitation can occur if concentrated streams are mixed directly. In formulations requiring cationic conditioning polymer, the anionic SLES is first diluted and neutralized, and the cationic polymer is introduced under controlled pH and mixing to form a stable dilution complex. Shelf life is typically 12 months from the date of manufacture when stored in the original sealed package.