How to Choose SLES 70%: Key Specifications for Buyers

October 25, 2026

Two offers of SLES 70% can look identical in a price list and behave very differently in production. The difference is in the specification details behind the headline "70%". This guide lists the items buyers should align before ordering, so the COA you receive matches the offer you accepted.

Active Matter Content

The defining number: active matter should be 70% within an agreed tolerance (commonly 70 ± 2%). This is what you are paying for — a lower-active lot is cheaper per drum but delivers less surfactant per ton of finished product.

Unsulfated Matter and Sodium Sulfate

Unsulfated matter (unreacted fatty alcohol) affects clarity, odor and foam quality; lower is better. Sodium sulfate content comes from production and neutralization — high levels dilute performance. Both are standard COA items with typical limits buyers should state in the order.

pH and Color

pH is measured on a diluted solution and should sit in the agreed range for your formulation. Color (measured in Hazen or Klett) matters for clear personal care products: water-white material serves shampoo and body wash; higher color limits what you can formulate.

1,4-Dioxane

For personal care markets, 1,4-dioxane is the specification buyers most often add: it is a by-product of ethoxylation and is limited by regulation and retailer standards in many markets. State your required limit — standard or low-dioxane grades differ in price — and check it on the COA.

Handling Notes

SLES 70% is a viscous paste that thickens in cold conditions; plan for warming before discharge, and store drums away from prolonged heat. Confirm drum type and net weight (commonly 170 kg plastic drums) in the contract. For an overview of applications, see what SLES 70% is used for. Theone Chemical quotes SLES 70% against a stated specification — send us yours and we will match it openly.