Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid (LAS / LABSA, CAS 68584-22-5) – High-Purity Anionic Surfactant | China Manufacturer & Bulk Supplier

🧼 1. Daily Chemical Industry - Core Raw Material for Detergents & Cleaners

LAS is the dominant anionic surfactant in global detergent manufacturing, accounting for approximately 40% of all surfactant consumption worldwide. It is neutralized with NaOH to produce sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) - the primary active ingredient in laundry powders, laundry liquids, dishwashing detergents, hard surface cleaners, and industrial degreasers. Its combination of excellent detergency (effective oil and protein removal), strong foaming, good water solubility, and compatibility with a wide range of co-surfactants (nonionic, cationic, amphoteric) makes it the formulator's first choice.

For liquid detergents, LAS is neutralized with MEA (monoethanolamine) or TEA (triethanolamine) to yield more soluble amine salts with better low-temperature performance. China suppliers offer LAS with optimized C₁₂-rich alkyl chain distributions for maximum detergency efficiency, enabling formulators to achieve equivalent cleaning performance at lower active matter concentrations - reducing formulation cost while meeting eco-label requirements.

🧵 2. Textile & Dyeing Industry - Emulsifier, Wetting Agent & Scouring Agent

In textile wet processing, LAS performs multiple functions: as a scouring agent it removes natural oils, waxes, and sizing agents from raw fibers during pretreatment; as a wetting agent it reduces water surface tension to ensure complete fiber penetration during dyeing; and as an emulsifier it stabilizes oil-based dye auxiliaries in aqueous dyebaths to ensure level dyeing. Low-sulfuric-acid-content LAS grades (H₂SO₄ ≤ 1.0%) are recommended for textile applications to minimize equipment corrosion in stainless steel dyeing machines. China manufacturers produce textile-grade LAS with tight color specification (Klett ≤ 20) to avoid staining light-colored fabrics.

🛢️ 3. Petroleum Industry - Oil-Displacing Agent for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)

In oilfield applications, LAS (and its neutralized salts) is a key component of surfactant flooding formulations for enhanced oil recovery. By drastically reducing the oil-water interfacial tension (from ~20 mN/m to <0.01 mN/m when blended with co-surfactants and alkali), LAS-based flooding agents mobilize residual oil trapped in reservoir pores by capillary forces, driving it toward production wells. LAS grades for EOR are selected for thermal stability (≥ 80°C) and salt tolerance (≥ 50,000 ppm TDS), critical for high-temperature, high-salinity reservoir conditions. China suppliers can provide custom alkyl chain length distributions optimized for specific reservoir characteristics and target interfacial tension reduction requirements.

🌱 4. Agricultural Formulations & Industrial Emulsifiers

In agricultural pesticide and herbicide formulations, LAS serves as an emulsifier and wetting agent that improves spreading and adhesion of active ingredients on leaf surfaces, enhancing bio-efficacy. It is used in emulsifiable concentrate (EC) and wettable powder (WP) formulations for a broad range of crop protection products. In industrial applications, LAS is used as an emulsifier in metalworking fluid formulations, leather processing auxiliaries, and construction chemical admixtures. Its biodegradability (≥ 90%) gives it a significant environmental advantage over non-biodegradable petroleum sulfonate alternatives in eco-sensitive agricultural and municipal applications.

LAS is typically shipped in 200 L HDPE drums or IBC totes (1,000 L); bulk liquid tanker options are available for orders ≥ 20 MT. When negotiating price, benchmark against both the LAB feedstock price index and SO₃ sulfonation conversion costs - LAS pricing is directly linked to LAB market prices which fluctuate with benzene and linear paraffin feedstock costs. For high-volume buyers, locking in a quarterly or annual supply contract with price indexing to LAB market prices provides cost predictability. Always confirm the Klett color specification that matches your end-product requirement - lower color (Klett ≤ 20) commands a premium but is essential for liquid detergents and personal care products.

Q1: What is the CAS number for Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid?

The CAS number is 68584-22-5 for the commercial mixture of Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid (C₁₀–C₁₃ alkyl chain distribution). It is also referred to as LABSA, LAS acid, or dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DDBSA) when a C₁₂-dominant grade is specified. Please indicate your target alkyl chain distribution and active matter requirement when requesting a quotation.

Q2: What is the difference between LAS (linear) and ABS (branched) alkylbenzene sulfonate?

The critical difference is biodegradability. LAS has a linear alkyl chain that microorganisms can readily break down through β-oxidation, achieving ≥ 90% biodegradation - compliant with EU Detergent Regulation (648/2004/EC) and EPA requirements. ABS (branched-chain) is resistant to biodegradation and has been effectively banned in detergent applications in Europe, North America, and many other markets since the 1960s–1970s. All commercial LAS supplied by Sinolook is confirmed linear (not branched) by GC analysis.

Q3: How do I neutralize LAS to produce SDBS (sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate)?

Add LAS slowly and gradually to a NaOH solution (30–50% w/w) under mechanical stirring at 40–60°C, targeting a final pH of 7.0–8.5 in the finished paste or liquid. The stoichiometric NaOH required is approximately 0.142 kg NaOH per kg of LAS (96% active). Never add water or NaOH solution to neat LAS directly - always add LAS to the alkali. Monitor temperature carefully as the neutralization reaction is exothermic. For potassium or amine salt variants, substitute KOH, MEA, DEA, or TEA as the neutralizing base at equivalent molar ratios.

Q4: Is LAS compatible with nonionic and cationic surfactants?

LAS is fully compatible with nonionic surfactants (AEO, APG, NP series) and with amphoteric surfactants (betaines, sulfobetaines) - these combinations are the basis of most modern liquid detergent formulations. LAS is incompatible with cationic surfactants (e.g., quaternary ammonium compounds, DTDMAC): mixing causes precipitation of an insoluble complex. If both anionic and cationic actives are needed in a formulation, use amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants as co-surfactants, or ensure the two components are in separate product phases.

Q5: What documentation is available for customs and regulatory compliance?

Sinolook provides a complete documentation package: Certificate of Analysis (CoA), Safety Data Sheet (SDS/MSDS), commercial invoice, packing list, Bill of Lading, and Certificate of Origin. Biodegradability test certificates (OECD 301B or equivalent), EU REACH pre-registration confirmation, and EPA TSCA compliance letters are available upon request. Third-party inspection reports (SGS, Intertek, BV) can be arranged for large orders.