Sodium myreth sulfate

Sodium myreth sulfate, or sodium myristyl ether sulfate (SMES), is a detergent and surfactant found in many personal care products (soaps, shampoos, toothpaste etc.). It is a cheap and very effective foaming agent. Its CAS registry number is [025446-80-4].

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Sodium myreth sulfate is very similar to sodium laureth sulfate; the only difference is two more carbons in the fatty alcohol molecule on the hydrophobic tail. Both detergents are manufactured by ethoxylation which 1,4-dioxane may be produced.

Its chemical formula is CH₃(CH₂)₁₂CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)_nOSO₃Na. Sometimes the number represented by "n" is specified in the name, as laureth-n sulfate (unsubscripted), for example laureth-2 sulfate.

Alternative names

• PEG-(1-4) Myristyl Ether Sulfate, sodium salt
• POE(2) Myristyl Ether Sulfate
• Sodium Diethylene glycol Myristyl Ether Sulfate
• Sodium Myristyl Ether Sulfate

See also

• Sodium laureth sulfate