Sodium lauryl sulfate, or SLS, is a strong detergent and surfactant, an agent that lowers the surface tension of a liquid. As such, it is a common addition to compounds that require the ability to bind hydrophobic materials such as grease or oil, or that produce lather. SLS is generally regarded as safe for external use in diluted amounts.
Cleansing Agent
The ability of SLS to bind hydrophobic molecules means it is a widely used component of cleaning solutions designed to clean grease or oil, including engine degreasers, kitchen cleaners and floor cleaners. The percentage of SLS in cleaning solutions can be as high as 15 percent, a percentage which is high enough to cause skin and eye irritation. SLS is also a component of flea and tick powder for household pets.
Personal Care Products
SLS's qualities as a surfactant enable it to aid lather formation, so it is a common addition to bubble baths, shampoos, shaving creams and foaming toothpastes. It also promotes the homogeneous dispersal of hydrophobic molecules in a water-based liquid, which causes it to be used to keep fragrance molecules dispersed in sprayable perfumes and colognes. It also has antimicrobial properties, which, combined with its cleansing abilities, makes it a common component of soaps and household detergents.
Laboratory
When used in scientific laboratories, sodium lauryl sulfate is generally called sodium dodecyl sulfate, or SDS. It is perhaps the most commonly used detergent in the lab, used for breaking open cells prior to extracting DNA, RNA or proteins. Its high negative charge and ability to coat proteins leads to its use in gel electrophoresis, a method of separating purified proteins by size. It is also used in the purification of biological and organic molecules, and as a catalyst in certain chemical reactions.
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