SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) Supplier in Malaysia
- Also known as
- SLS
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate
ChemTrade supplies SLS to detergent blenders, personal care manufacturers and industrial formulators across Malaysia. Sodium lauryl sulphate, also written sodium dodecyl sulfate, is the high foaming anionic surfactant behind most shampoo, toothpaste and dishwash formulations. It ships as needles or as powder in 25 kg bags.
Needles are the usual choice for dry blending and for anyone charging bags by hand, because they raise far less dust. Powder dissolves faster and meters more accurately through automated dosing. Both run at commercial active content, so the decision is a handling one rather than a performance one.
SLS is not SLES. Sodium laureth sulphate is the ethoxylated version, sold as a 70% paste in drums, milder on skin, and it is what most Malaysian shampoo and dishwash plants actually build on. We stock that separately, so if your formulation sheet says SLES 70 then ask for it by name and we will quote the right material.
No licence is needed to buy SLS in Malaysia: it is not a scheduled poison and it does not move as dangerous goods. It does irritate skin and eyes, and the fine powder irritates airways, so work with goggles, gloves and dust extraction. Store it sealed, cool and dry, away from strong acids and oxidisers.
- CAS number
- 151-21-3
- Formula
- C12H25NaO4S
- Grade
- industrial
- Appearance
- white to cream needles or free-flowing powder
- Availability
- Local stock
SLS grades and forms
We supply several forms to suit different formulating and dosing setups. If you need a size that is not listed, ask us.
| Grade | Form | Assay | Typical use | Packing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLS needles | white needle-like crystals | confirmed on COA | The standard form for dry blending into detergent powders and for plants that charge by hand, because it raises far less dust than a fine powder. Also the usual choice for toothpaste and bar soap lines. | 25 kg bag |
| SLS powder | white to cream free-flowing powder | confirmed on COA | Dissolves faster than needles and meters more accurately through automated dosing equipment, so it suits liquid detergent and shampoo batching where the surfactant is charged into water. | 20 or 25 kg bag |
| SLS solution | clear to hazy liquid | to your specified strength | For plants that would rather not handle a solid at all. Sourced to the active concentration your formulation calls for, so tell us the strength rather than ordering a standard grade. | drum |
How to buy SLS from ChemTrade
Request a quote for SLS
Use the form below to request a quotation. You can also email sales@chemtrademalaysia.com or send us a message on WhatsApp.
Specifications
| Parameter | Value | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | white to cream needles or free-flowing powder | — |
| Ionic character | anionic | — |
| Molecular weight | 288.4 g/mol | — |
| Solubility in water | readily soluble, high foaming | — |
| Solubility in ethanol | soluble | — |
SLS applications
Safety and handling
- Classification
- irritant, causes skin irritation, causes serious eye damage, may cause respiratory irritation
Not a scheduled poison in Malaysia and not classified as dangerous goods for transport, so no licence or permit is needed to buy it. Store sealed, cool and dry, away from strong acids and strong oxidisers, because acid hydrolyses the sulphate ester. Handle with goggles, gloves and dust extraction: the fine powder irritates airways, and this is the one real handling risk on the product.
Common questions about SLS
What is the difference between SLS and SLES, and which one do I need?
They are different chemicals. SLS is the solid, sold as needles or powder in bags, and it foams harder and strips more. SLES is sodium laureth sulphate, the ethoxylated version, sold as a 70% paste in drums and milder on skin, which is why most Malaysian shampoo and dishwash plants build on it. We supply both, so send us the formulation and we will tell you which one your sheet is actually asking for.
Needles or powder, does the form matter?
Same chemistry, different handling. Needles raise much less dust and are easier on an operator charging bags by hand, so they are the default for powder blending and toothpaste. Powder dissolves faster and meters better through automated dosing when you are charging into water. Tell us how it is being added and we will say which one gives you less trouble.
Do I need a licence to buy sodium lauryl sulphate in Malaysia?
No. It is not a scheduled poison and it is not restricted for supply, so it needs no licence or permit at our end and no dangerous goods declaration to move it. Your own finished product may still need registration depending on whether it is a cosmetic, an oral care product or a pharmaceutical, but that sits with your regulatory team, not with the raw material.
What active content do you supply, and can I get a certificate of analysis?
Commercial SLS runs across a range of active contents depending on the producer and the drying route, so we quote against the grade rather than publish one figure that would be wrong for half the material. Every delivery comes with the batch certificate of analysis. If your process has a limit on active matter, sodium sulphate, unsulphated matter or chloride, send the specification and we will source to it rather than send you the nearest thing.
What packing is available?
25 kg bags are standard for needles and powder, and 20 kg bags are available. We work with several producers, so if your line needs a size that is not standard we can usually arrange it. Solution grades come in drums.
How is it priced?
SLS follows the lauryl alcohol and palm kernel chain, so prices move. We quote a current price with a stated validity period rather than publish one that would soon be out of date. Send the form and quantity and we will come back with a figure.