SODIUM OLEFIN SULFONATE

Origin: Synthetic

Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate is a synthetic anionic surfactant used to cleanse the skin and produce foam. Although its name is sometimes confused with sulphates, it is a sulfonate and allows us to formulate sulphate-free cleansing products.

In our rinse-off cleansing system, we use it at 10% active matter, combined with other ingredients to achieve the intended cleansing performance, foam profile and skin feel. The safety and mildness of the finished product are assessed as a complete formulation, rather than inferred from one ingredient in isolation.

Biodegradability

According to the manufacturer’s safety data, the substance achieved 80% biodegradation after 28 days in an OECD 301B CO₂ evolution test and 92% after 28 days in an OECD 306 seawater biodegradation test. In both tests, it was classified as readily biodegradable.

The manufacturer also reports a low bioaccumulation potential, with a log Pow of −1.3. These results apply to the raw material and should not be presented as biodegradability results for the complete cosmetic formula.

Purity and technical controls

The commercial raw material specification controls unsulfonated matter to a maximum of 1.2%, sodium chloride to a maximum of 1% and total sultones to below 25 ppm.The manufacturer also reports inorganic sulphites below 350 ppm as SO₂ and states that 1,4-dioxane was not detected at a detection limit of 0.5 mg/kg. Nitrosamines are not tested and/or are not expected based on the raw materials and product chemistry.

This ingredient illustrates an important part of our formulation philosophy: natural-origin percentage is not our only selection criterion. We also consider function, purity specifications, biodegradability, bioaccumulation potential, regulatory status and the performance of the complete finished formula.

Anionic surfactant- biodegradable

SAFETY DATA: download report