Anionic Surfactant LABSA for Emulsifier & Wetting Agent

• LABSA (full name: Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulfonic Acid, CAS 27176-87-0) is a high-efficacy anionic surfactant produced via sulfonation reaction of linear alkyl benzene. It appears as a brown viscous liquid, with standard commercial purity of 96%.
  
  
• As the most widely used and highest-consumption surfactant in the global detergent industry, it is extensively applied in the production of household cleaners (washing powder, dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent) and industrial cleaning products. It also serves as a key raw material for textile, leather, papermaking and electroplating industries.
  
  
• When neutralized into Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS), it delivers excellent detergency, wetting, foaming and emulsifying properties. LABSA also functions as an acid catalyst and an emulsifier for pesticide emulsions.
  
  
• As a direct source manufacturer, we supply high-quality LABSA products with guaranteed stable bulk supply capacity.
  
  

1. Direct Source Factory Supply

Backed by our in-house production lines, we ensure stable fulfillment for large bulk orders and offer highly competitive ex-factory prices for premium LABSA.

2. Ultra-High Active Matter Content

With active matter content ≥ 96%, it delivers stronger detergency performance and superior formulation stability.

3. Wide Industry Adaptability

Suitable for cleaning and emulsification formulations across household, industrial and agricultural sectors.

4. Outstanding Cost Performance

As the most cost-effective anionic surfactant on the market, it effectively helps customers control production costs.

5. Global Regulatory Compliance

Compliant with GB/T 8447 standard and EU REACH regulation, with excellent environmental performance and high biodegradability.

1. Household & Industrial Detergent Production (Core Application)

Core function: Used as the base raw material for washing powder, laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, cleaning powder and soap. After neutralization, it produces Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS), delivering excellent detergency, wetting, foaming and emulsifying properties.

Synergistic performance: Blended with anionic surfactants such as AES for synergistic effects in hard water, delivering rich foam and strong oil removal capacity.

2. Textile & Leather Processing

Serves as cleaning agent, scouring agent and dyeing auxiliary in the textile industry, for fiber cleaning and dye wetting

Acts as an effective degreasing agent in leather processing, improving leather treatment efficiency

Features high detergency, wetting, foaming, emulsifying and dispersing properties, with biodegradability > 90%

3. Agrochemicals

Used as wetting agent, emulsifier and dispersant in herbicide, insecticide and pesticide formulations, improving product spreadability and adhesion on plant surfaces.

4. Electroplating & Metal Cleaning

Serves as degreasing and oil removal component in electroplating and metal processing industries.

5. Paper Industry Deinking

Acts as a key component of deinking agents for waste paper recycling and deinking processes.

Q1: What is LABSA, and what is its standard global identifier?

A: LABSA (full name: Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulfonic Acid, alias Dodecylbenzenesulfonic Acid, CAS 27176-87-0) is a high-efficacy anionic surfactant produced via sulfonation of linear alkyl benzene. It appears as a brown viscous liquid, and is the highest-consumption basic raw material in the global detergent industry.

Q2: What is the standard active matter content of commercial LABSA?

A: The standard industrial grade LABSA has an active matter content of ≥ 96%, with free oil ≤ 2.0% and sulfuric acid content ≤ 1.5%. This is the universal global specification for detergent production.

Q3: What are the main functions of LABSA in formulations?

A: LABSA delivers 5 core functions:

Excellent detergency and oil removal capacity

Strong foaming and foam stabilization performance

Good wetting and penetrating properties

Excellent emulsifying and dispersing capacity

Can be neutralized into Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) for wide formulation use

Q4: What products and industries is LABSA commonly applied in?

A: LABSA is widely used across 5 major industries:

Detergent industry: Washing powder, laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, soap and household/industrial cleaners

Textile & leather: Cleaning agents, scouring agents, dyeing auxiliaries, leather degreasing agents

Agrochemicals: Wetting agents, emulsifiers and dispersants for pesticides and herbicides

Metal & electroplating: Degreasing and oil removal agents for metal processing

Paper industry: Key component of deinking agents for waste paper recycling

Q5: Can LABSA be combined with other surfactants for better performance?

A: Yes, LABSA has excellent formulation compatibility. It delivers significant synergistic effects when blended with anionic surfactants such as AES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate), especially in hard water conditions: the blend maintains rich foam, stronger oil removal capacity and better detergency performance.

Q6: Is LABSA biodegradable and compliant with global regulations?

A: Yes, LABSA has excellent environmental performance:

Biodegradability > 90%, meeting global environmental protection requirements

Compliant with EU REACH regulation, China GB/T 8447 standard and other major regional regulatory frameworks

It is the most widely accepted environmentally friendly anionic surfactant for detergent production.

Q7: How to neutralize LABSA to produce LAS for detergent production?

A: LABSA can be neutralized with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium carbonate or other alkalis to produce Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS), the active component of most detergents. The neutralization process is simple and can be directly integrated into standard detergent production lines.

Q8: Does LABSA work effectively in hard water?

A: LABSA maintains good detergency performance in medium hard water. When blended with AES or other surfactants, its hard water tolerance is significantly improved, making it suitable for use in regions with different water hardness levels.

Q9: What is the pH value of LABSA?

A: LABSA is an acidic surfactant, with a pH value of 1-3 for 1% aqueous solution. It needs to be neutralized before use in most neutral detergent formulations.

Q10: What is the advantage of LABSA compared to other anionic surfactants?

A: LABSA is the most cost-effective anionic surfactant on the market:

Highest detergency per unit cost

Stable supply and mature production technology

Excellent formulation compatibility and wide application range

Good biodegradability and global regulatory compliance