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Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate (AOS) is a powerful anionic surfactant derived from coconut or palm oil, widely used in shampoos and body washes. Its primary selling point is delivering rich, creamy foam even in hard water, outperforming many traditional sulfates. While offering excellent grease-cutting cleaning power, it is significantly milder on skin and eyes than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), reducing irritation risks. AOS leaves skin feeling soft rather than stripped and is readily biodegradable, appealing to eco-conscious consumers. It creates stable lather instantly and thickens formulations easily with salt. Often marketed in "sulfate-free" products despite being a sulfonate, it balances high performance with gentleness, making it a premium choice for effective, environmentally friendly personal care and household cleaning solutions globally today.
Items | Specifications | Results |
Appearance(25℃) | White or light yellowviscous | Pass |
Odor | No strange odors | Pass |
Active matter(%) | 92±2 | 92.1 |
Unsulfated matter(%) | ≤5.5 | 0.6 |
Sodium sulfate(%) | ≤5.5 | 5.0 |
Free Alkali(%,asNaOH) | ≤0.9 | 0.5 |
Hazen Color(5%Am.aq,sol)Hazen | ≤30 | 4 |
Conclusion | The product conforms to the above specifications. | |
Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate (often abbreviated as AOS or Sodium Alpha-Olefin Sulfonate) is a high-performance anionic surfactant derived from natural sources (typically coconut or palm kernel oil). It is a mixture of sodium alkene sulfonates and sodium hydroxyalkane sulfonates.
It is widely regarded as a premium alternative to harsher sulfates like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and is a staple in "sulfate-free" or "gentle" personal care formulations, despite technically being a sulfonate.
Key Selling Points & Advantages
1. Excellent Foaming Performance
Rich, Dense Lather: One of its strongest selling points is its ability to produce a voluminous, creamy, and stable foam, even in hard water. This makes it highly desirable for shampoos, body washes, and bubble baths where consumers equate rich lather with cleaning power.
Flash Foam: It creates foam instantly upon contact with water.
2. Superior Cleansing with Less Irritation
Balanced Mildness: While it is a powerful cleanser that effectively removes oil, dirt, and sebum, it is generally considered milder and less irritating to the skin and eyes than traditional SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate).
Skin Feel: Unlike some sulfates that leave skin feeling "squeaky" or stripped, AOS often leaves a softer after-feel, reducing the need for heavy conditioning agents.
3. Hard Water Stability
Calcium/Magnesium Tolerance: It maintains its foaming and cleaning efficiency in hard water conditions where other surfactants might precipitate or lose effectiveness. This makes it ideal for bar soaps and products used in regions with hard water.
4. Biodegradability and Eco-Friendliness
Rapid Degradation: Derived from renewable alpha-olefins, it is readily biodegradable and breaks down quickly in the environment, appealing to eco-conscious brands and consumers.
Low Toxicity: It has a favorable toxicological profile compared to many synthetic petrochemical surfactants.
5. Versatility in Formulation
Synergy: It works exceptionally well when blended with amphoteric surfactants (like Cocamidopropyl Betaine) to further boost mildness and foam stability.
Viscosity Building: It helps thicken formulations easily with simple salts (like sodium chloride), reducing the need for expensive polymeric thickeners.
Common Applications
Personal Care: Shampoos (especially for oily hair), body washes, facial cleansers, hand soaps, and bubble baths.
Household Cleaning: Dishwashing liquids, laundry detergents, and all-purpose cleaners due to its grease-cutting ability.
Industrial Uses: Firefighting foams, concrete air-entraining agents, and mining flotation agents.
Comparison Summary
Feature Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate (AOS) Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Foam Quality Very high, creamy, stable in hard water High, but can collapse in hard water
Mildness Moderate to High (Gentler) Low (Can be harsh/irritating)
Cleaning Power Excellent degreaser Excellent degreaser
Source Natural (Coconut/Palm olefins) Often Petrochemical or Coconut/Palm
Market Position Premium "Gentle" Surfactant Standard/Budget Surfactant
Summary: Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a top-tier surfactant chosen by formulators who need high foam and strong cleaning power without the extreme harshness associated with traditional sulfates. Its ability to perform in hard water and its biodegradable nature make it a versatile and marketable ingredient for modern, eco-friendly personal care and cleaning products.



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