Talk:Sodium dodecyl sulfate

Changed synthesis route
It is not possible to sulfate alcohol using sulfuric acid alone. There may be some confusion about the use of oleum which will sulfate, as it is sulfur trioxide dissolved in sulfuric acid. I added three potential sulfating agents to the synthetic route, and highlighted the industrially practiced method Euengunn (talk) 02:29, 11 January 2011 (UTC) EGunn10 Jan 2011

Moved from article
I removed the following content from the article because it was unsupported by any reference and I'm not convinced that it is entirely accurate: ''Sodium lauryl sulfate is increasingly found in all kinds of common over-the-counter orally ingested drugs like aspirin as well as prescription medicines like drugs for heart problems. The reason for this is that it aids the production process by helping tablets not to stick to the mould when pressed into shape. The long term health implications of this for patients has not been the subject of any studies, and in the UK for instance it is now virtually impossible to get aspirin of any brand, standard or dispersible that does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate.'' -- Ed (Edgar181) 21:47, 5 September 2010 (UTC)
 * Sounds like a hoax... SLS won't work this way, instead, magnesium stearate and stuff like this ist used. --FK1954 (talk) 19:58, 24 September 2010 (UTC)

Moved from article 2
The following section I have cut from the article (and added a nowiki capsule), because it contains a citation needed tag which has been unfulfilled apparently since January 2010:"Also, anions of SDS bind to the main peptide chain at a ratio of one SDS anion for every two amino acid residues. This effectively imparts a negative charge on the protein that is proportional to the mass of that protein (about 1.4 g SDS/g protein)." I am unsure which if any part of this is fulfilled by the PNAS citation. Perhaps someone with a stronger chemistry background can review this and reinsert what is from the citation and keep out what is not.Wjhonson (talk) 18:13, 26 October 2010 (UTC)

Requested move

 * The following discussion is an archived discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. No further edits should be made to this section. 

The result of the move request was: page moved. Although the discussion below is a bit messy, and this is reversing a previous move, there's a strong and well-argued consensus to move. Andrewa (talk) 02:30, 22 March 2011 (UTC)

Sodium lauryl sulfate → Sodium dodecyl sulfate — "Sodium dodecyl sulfate" (SDS) is far more common. I do not think I have ever heard it called "sodium lauryl sulfate" until I looked here. Is there a particular reason a less common name is used? Thanks! Multivariable (talk) 08:58, 14 March 2011 (UTC)

Both are certainly well-known, but Google fight seems to indicate "dodecyl" is more common... --Rifleman 82 (talk) 16:05, 14 March 2011 (UTC)


 * All the products I've found in this house have lauryl listed on the ingredients. Is this a US vs. rest of the world (I'm UK), or chemists vs. general public thing? Jonobennett (talk) 16:51, 14 March 2011 (UTC)


 * I was wondering, because all the ingredients I've seen in a biology lab all say "dodecyl" (e.g. SDS-PAGE, in reagents, pure compound). A better Google fight might be with the exact phrase: -Multivariable (talk) 18:27, 14 March 2011 (UTC)

It's known as SDS in science and SLS in industry, I think. SDS-PAGE is big in biology.

Ben (talk) 17:31, 14 March 2011 (UTC)


 * According to this link at the NIH's Household Product Database, "sodium lauryl sulfate" is the United States Adopted Name which would lend a least some authority to the name we're currently using. (I can't find if there is a British Approved Name or International Nonproprietary Name.)  -- Ed (Edgar181) 17:37, 14 March 2011 (UTC)


 * Sodium lauryl sulfate is the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients name, so it's the most recognised name in that context, although there is nothing about this system in the Naming conventions (chemistry). The naming conventions recommend the IUPAC name (this is already given more prominence in the infobox) - as it seems there are other significant uses of the compound this article should probably not be an exception. Peter E. James (talk) 22:18, 14 March 2011 (UTC)


 * As stated above, SLS is the common industry name (as reflected in the INCI name) whereas SDS prevails in academia (hence the IUPAC). The difference, at least in my experience, isn't local to any country or region, and is strictly a academic/industry divide.  Lacking any other determining characteristic, I'd go with whatever google says is more prevalent. --  B figura  (talk) 01:55, 15 March 2011 (UTC)


 * Comment my organic chemistry teacher called it sodium lauryl sulphate. 184.144.160.156 (talk) 03:06, 15 March 2011 (UTC)


 * Comment what about sulfate/sulphate ? 184.144.160.156 (talk) 03:12, 15 March 2011 (UTC)
 * +"sodium dodecyl sulfate" +MSDS 16.9k
 * +"sodium dodecyl sulphate" +MSDS 160k
 * +"sodium lauryl sulphate" +MSDS 13.1k
 * +"sodium lauryl sulfate" +MSDS 12.9k
 * Well... in my household goods it's "lauryl" but the MSDS's seem to favour "dodecyl", however the form favoured by MSDS' is "sulphate", not "sulfate". 184.144.160.156 (talk) 03:12, 15 March 2011 (UTC)

There's no debate about sulfate/sulphate. Sulfur opposed to sulphur is the agreed-upon name on Wikipedia (for good reason, see WP:SULF. --Rifleman 82 (talk) 03:23, 15 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Support: If it is just a debate between industry and academia, we might as well go with the most common name. –CWenger (talk) 03:50, 15 March 2011 (UTC)


 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on this talk page. No further edits should be made to this section.

Why is SDS called anionic in the first paragraph?
Why is SDS called anionic in the first paragraph when the structure clearly shows the Na+, and negatively charged dodecyl sulfate? For a citation, the Calbiochem volume "Detergents:A guide to the properties and uses of detergents in biological systems" by Srirama M. Bhairi, Ph.D. lists SDS as an ionic detergent (p.40, table). Twbeals31 (talk) 22:15, 20 September 2011 (UTC)
 * It's most likely because the active part of the compound in solution (dodecyl sulfate) is anionic. The (cationic) sodium doesn't appear to play a significant role in the activity of the compound. -Multivariable (talk) 00:30, 21 September 2011 (UTC)
 * Yes, that's right. The part that acts as a surfactant is the dodecyl sulfate, which is negatively charged and therefore anionic.  -- Ed (Edgar181) 20:52, 21 September 2011 (UTC)

Other Name for this Chemical.... Irium
In the world of product marketing, the toothpaste brand "Pepsodent" apparently created the chemical name "Irium" to represent sodium lauryl sulfate. Although "Irium" appears to be fictional, it was widely used in it's 1950's advertising comercials on TV.

See also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepsodent And: http://www.online-medical-dictionary.org/Irium.asp?q=Irium And: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pepsodent/107573479272458 And: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1009070680693578059# — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.147.248.157 (talk) 06:56, 27 September 2011 (UTC)

Carcinogenicity and non-carcinogenicity
I'm sorry, is there a policy regarding the use of the term "non-carcinogenicity"? It seems to me like a desperate attempt to be politically correct, like saying "non-toxicology". Anyway the article referenced to support non-carcinogenicity makes no mention of it in the abstract, and the Australian government review in the second citation mentions only one very brief study and questions its relevance.

For anyone interested in digging deeper, here are some alarming but unreferenced claims. I don't consider the website a reliable source because it has an obvious bias (selling SLS-free shampoo). Note that the text after "Chemical and physical properties" is apparently not part of the cited article.

From http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/sls-JACT-report.html:

Carcinogenic nitrates can form in the manufacturing of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or by its inter reaction with other nitrogen bearing ingredients within a formulation utilizing this ingredient. Tests show permanent eye damage in young animals from skin contact in non eye areas. Studies at Georgia Medical College indicated Sodium Lauryl Sulfate kept young eyes from developing properly by possibly denaturing the proteins and not allowing for proper structural formation. This damage was permanent.

Other studies have indicated that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, the liver, the lungs and the brain from skin contact. This poses question of it being a serious potential health threat to its use in shampoos, cleansers, and tooth pastes.

Still other research has indicated SLS may be damaging to the immune system, especially within the skin. Skin layers may separate and inflame due to its protein denaturing properties. A higher foaming and slightly less irritating modification of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate can he manufactured by ethoxylation of the surfactant. The modified compound becomes know as Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate. The cosmetic name is Sodium Laureth Sulfate with an abbreviated symbol of SLES.

Zip-x (talk) 20:52, 8 December 2011 (UTC)


 * The URL you give isn't quite as complete. The link at http://ijt.sagepub.com/content/2/7/127 is this report, plus the paragraph for mutagenesis (third to last) - which tells me the source you provided omitted this.  -- Dennis The Tiger   (Rawr and stuff) 17:47, 12 December 2011 (UTC)


 * Incidentally, could you provide the URL for those studies? This would be worthy of inclusion, I think, if it could pass WP:RS. -- Dennis The Tiger   (Rawr and stuff) 17:51, 12 December 2011 (UTC)


 * The urban legend encyclopedia Snopes has an article debunking the notion that SLS in shampoos causes cancer: http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/shampoo.asp Beggarsbanquet (talk) 06:15, 22 January 2012 (UTC)

10/09/2013: The statement "SDS is not carcinogenic when either applied directly to skin or consumed.[18]" is not supported by the article cited.


 * There is an obvious attempt to downplay the negative effects of SLS on the body throughout the entire page. There is widespread knowledge and studies that prove SLS is very bad for you. If i do so desire, I could put them all in but they would probably be attacked and removed again by the powers that be.  As great as Wikipedia is to society, I suggest to any concerned citizens, that it shall not be your primary place to find out if something may be harmful to you or not.  In general everything is good in this fairy-tail world according to most of Wikipedia.--Mapsfly (talk) 18:09, 25 July 2016 (UTC)

Note that the article linked by Zip-x above ("sls-JACT-report") is a fabrication, it has been modified from the real article in the journal. Compare the opening paragraph with the real one from the report (my emphasis):

Fake:


 * Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is an anionic surfactant used in cosmetics and industrial chemicals as a cleansing agent. In absorption, metabolism and excretion studies Sodium Lauryl Sulfate had a degenerative effect on the cell membranes because of its protein denaturing properties. High levels of skin penetration may occur at even low use concentration.

Real:


 * Sodium and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate are anionic surfactants used in cosmetics as cleansing agents. In absorption, metabolism, and excretion studies, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate had a degenerative effect on the cell membranes because of its protein denaturing properties. Low levels of skin penetration may occur at high use concentration.

They have also removed the sentence "Both Sodium and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate appear to be safe in formulations designed for discontinuous, brief use followed by thorough rinsing from the surface of the skin." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 121.45.252.226 (talk) 07:16, 26 June 2018 (UTC)

You can see the abstract of the real article here: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3109/10915818309142005 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 121.45.252.226 (talk) 07:17, 26 June 2018 (UTC)

Ulcers not limited to toothpaste use?
I've came across mention that this substance (food additive code E487) has been used in some drugs and when ingested by those sensitive to it could cause ulcers internally.

irium?
Pepsodent article says this is it. Is it? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.183.23.103 (talk) 16:41, 19 October 2012 (UTC)

Sodium Coco Sulfate
I removed sentence stating Sodium Coco Sulfate is essentially the same as SDS but from less purified coconut oil, as it did not reference scientific sources and I felt it is misleading unless a broader discussion is presented about the similarities and differences within the class of alkyl sulfates; carbon chain length and chain length distributions have significant effects on the properties of alkyl sulfates. Lower chain lengths (C14) are less water soluble. Typically sodium coco sulfate has 48-52% C12. I will work on pulling references if needed. [Unsigned entry.]

Stray unsourced and inaccurate sentences moved here
Please provide citations for the following, and in doing so, make sure that the content closely follows the meaning and explanation in the source. (Asked, because in the following, the meanings are unclear, inaccurate, and/or explanations are non-encyclopedic.) Please, use secondary sources, and not primary research literature (except to deepen the sourcing) or tertiary sources (such as early undergraduate textbooks). See WP:VERIFY and the related science sourcing guidelines if you have any question. Here are the moved sentences: Cheers, Le Prof Leprof 7272 (talk) 23:54, 13 March 2016 (UTC)
 * "Sodium lauryl sulfate is also used in the analysis of hemoglobin. The hydrophobic group of SLS acts upon the globin subunit, causing a conformational change; the hydrophilic group of SLS then binds with the oxidized iron subunit, producing a stable reaction product which can then be analyzed, giving a hemoglobin value which is used as part of a complete blood count."
 * "SDS is an EPA approved inert ingredient for pesticide formulations.[Cites EPA document for Sodium lauryl ether sulfate] It is also considered a Minimum Risk Pesticides Exempted from FIFRA Registration by the EPA under 40 CFR 152.25(f)." [Note, this paragraph bases its conclusions on sources that regard a different, but similarly named compound.]

Moved from article
An editor has created empty sections with a request for expansion, but I think it is better to make that request here on the discussion page rather than disrupting the article by requesting it there. So here it is. -- Ed (Edgar181) 13:14, 21 July 2016 (UTC)


 * ===Cosmetics additive===
 * ===Pharmaceutical product additive===
 * ===Pharmaceutical product additive===

Synonym
It's explained early that Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS) is a synonym for Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS). But then half way through the article, it's all "SDS this" and "SLS that", as if they're two different things. Choose one and stick to it. I would choose SLS, but there are comments above suggesting that usage differs between academe and industry.

I'll give it a few days, and then in the absence of comments here, I'll probably single-down on SLS.

21:18, 19 April 2022 (UTC)