Naatriumlaurüülsulfaat

Naatriumlaurüülsulfaat, often abbreviated as SLS, is a widely used surfactant and emulsifier. It is a sodium salt of a long-chain alcohol sulfate. Its primary function is to reduce surface tension between liquids, or between a liquid and a solid, enabling better mixing and cleaning. SLS is commonly found in a vast array of personal care products due to its foaming and cleansing properties. These include toothpastes, shampoos, body washes, soaps, and facial cleansers. It is also utilized in industrial cleaning agents and as a laboratory reagent. The manufacturing process typically involves sulfating lauryl alcohol, followed by neutralization with sodium carbonate. While effective, SLS can be a skin irritant for some individuals, leading to dryness, redness, or itching, particularly with prolonged exposure or in higher concentrations. This potential for irritation has led to its exclusion from some "natural" or "sensitive skin" formulations. Despite these concerns, SLS remains a cost-effective and highly functional ingredient for many applications.