The industrial surfactant behind everyday cleaning formulations
Sulfanol is an anionic surfactant that has served industry for decades as the backbone of washing and cleaning formulations. This raw material belongs to the Surfactants
category and remains a go-to choice for anyone producing household chemicals, technical detergents, or industrial degreasing solutions. The 100 gram package is well suited for home-scale formulation of dish soaps, floor cleaners, car shampoos, or equipment cleaning agents, and it works equally well for testing recipes before scaling up production.
The primary application of sulfanol lies in household and industrial chemistry: laundry gels and powders, dishwashing liquids, automotive shampoos, and formulations for cleaning hard surfaces. Thanks to its strong foaming ability and effective grease-dissolving properties, this surfactant is widely used in food processing facilities for degreasing equipment and production lines. It is equally valued in the construction sector as a foaming agent for producing foam concrete and aerated concrete blocks, as well as in the textile industry for rinsing fabrics before dyeing. In oilfield operations, sulfanol acts as a demulsifier and wetting agent during drilling processes. In agriculture, it is used as part of emulsifier systems for pesticides, improving the even distribution of active ingredients across treated surfaces.
Sulfanol dissolves readily in warm water at 40-60 degrees Celsius and should be introduced during the water phase mixing stage of a formulation, with typical dosage ranging from 5 to 20 percent of the total batch weight depending on the required foaming and cleaning strength. It combines well with electrolytes, fragrances, salt-based thickeners, and other surfactants used to adjust viscosity and reduce the irritation potential of the finished product. For formulations intended for gentler skin contact, sulfanol is often paired with milder plant-derived surfactants such as babassu-based RESASSOL AGB or corn-derived Resplanta MAIS, both of which soften the harshness of the technical surfactant. For blends aiming at mild, low-irritation cleansing, sugar-based GlucoTain liquiFLEX surfactant is another popular option that reduces overall formulation aggressiveness while maintaining cleaning performance.
Sulfanol should be stored in a dry place at room temperature, in tightly sealed packaging, away from moisture that could cause caking and reduce its activity over time. Direct sunlight and temperature fluctuations should also be avoided for long-term storage. Under proper conditions, the shelf life is quite long, making the material convenient for stockpiling in a production facility or a home workshop.
Concentrated car shampoo base
Distilled water 220 ml
Sulfanol surfactant 35 g
GlucoTain liquiFLEX surfactant 10 g
Sodium chloride 4 g
Glycerin 6 ml
Fragrance oil 3 ml
Warm
the water to about 50 degrees Celsius and dissolve the sulfanol gradually while
stirring continuously until fully clear. Add the GlucoTain liquiFLEX surfactant
to soften the blend and reduce skin contact irritation, then let the mixture
cool before slowly adding sodium chloride to reach the desired thickness. Stir
in the glycerin to protect painted surfaces from drying out, finish with the
fragrance oil, and mix thoroughly before bottling the finished shampoo.