Quick Search
Sodium xylene sulfonate may also be used to reduce the viscosity of concentrated surfactants and formulations.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is an anionic surfactant and hydrotrope commonly used in liquid cleaning and detergent formulations.
Sodium xylene sulfonate belongs to the family of alkylaryl sulfonates and is valued mainly for its solubilizing and viscosity-adjusting properties.
CAS Number: 1300-72-7
Molecular Formula: C8H9NaO3S
Molecular Weight: 208.21
EINECS Number: 215-090-9
Synonyms:sodium xylene sulfonate, RefChem:887987, SCHEMBL30601181, ZCOGBQMNWOQJBU-UHFFFAOYSA-M, NAXOLATE 4LS;NAXONATE 4L;NAXONATE 5L;NAXONATE SX;SODIUM XYLENESULFONATE;sodium dimethylbenzenesulfonate;SXS;benzenesulfonicacid,dimethyl,sodiumsalt
Sodium xylene sulfonate is a sodium xylene sulphonate powder.
Sodium xylene sulfonate acts as a hydrotrope and may be used to increase the solubility of other compounds.
In conjunction with non-ionic surfactants it will raise the cloud point of the solution allowing clear liquids to be obtained at higher temperatures, enabling additional control of the foaming characteristics and performance.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is not primarily a high-foaming surfactant but a functional formulation aid.
Chemically, sodium xylene sulfonate is the sodium salt of xylene sulfonic acid.
It contains an aromatic ring (xylene) substituted with a sulfonate (–SO₃⁻) group, which provides water solubility.
Sodium xylene sulfonates general formula is typically represented as C₈H₉SO₃Na (structure varies depending on isomer mixture).
Physically, sodium xylene sulfonate is usually supplied as a clear to slightly hazy liquid solution or as a solid.
It is highly soluble in water and forms stable aqueous solutions.
Sodium xylene sulfonate has little to no noticeable odor.
Functionally, sodium xylene sulfonate acts mainly as a hydrotrope.
It improves the solubility of poorly soluble surfactants and other ingredients in water.
This helps prevent phase separation in concentrated liquid formulations.
Sodium xylene sulfonate shows good compatibility with anionic, nonionic, and amphoteric surfactants.
It can reduce formulation viscosity and improve flow properties.
This makes it particularly useful in heavy-duty liquid detergents.
Industrially, sodium xylene sulfonate is used primarily in cleaning and industrial formulations.
It enhances clarity and stability in liquid cleaners.
Its main value lies in formulation performance rather than direct cleaning strength.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is a functional additive in surfactant systems.
It improves solubility, stability, and processing characteristics.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is widely used in household and industrial detergent chemistry.
Sodium xylene sulfonate plays an important role in concentrated formulation design.
As detergent products have become more compact and high-active, hydrotropes like sodium xylene sulfonate are essential to keep ingredients fully dissolved.
Without it, many modern liquid cleaners would separate or form haze during storage.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is particularly effective in cold-process formulations.
Because it dissolves readily in water, it allows formulators to avoid heating steps during manufacturing.
This reduces energy consumption and simplifies large-scale production.
In mixed surfactant systems, sodium xylene sulfonate helps balance micelle formation.
Sodium xylene sulfonate modifies the structure of surfactant aggregates, preventing excessive viscosity build-up.
This is critical for pourability and consumer usability.
Sodium xylene sulfonate also contributes to temperature stability.
Formulations containing it are less likely to cloud or precipitate at low temperatures.
This improves product appearance and performance during transport and storage.
From a compatibility standpoint, it works well with enzymes, solvents, fragrances, and preservatives.
It helps keep fragrance oils and solvents evenly dispersed in aqueous systems.
This improves fragrance release and formulation consistency.
In industrial cleaning systems, sodium xylene sulfonate supports high-alkaline and solvent-rich formulations.
It maintains clarity even in aggressive chemical environments.
This makes it suitable for degreasers, metal cleaners, and hard-surface cleaners.
The compound exhibits good chemical inertness in finished formulations.
It does not readily react with oxidizing agents or alkaline builders under normal conditions.
This stability supports long product shelf life.
In environmental terms, sodium xylene sulfonate is considered readily biodegradable under aerobic conditions.
Its environmental profile is generally more favorable than older branched alkylbenzene sulfonates.
Wastewater treatment systems can effectively degrade it.
From a regulatory perspective, sodium xylene sulfonate is widely accepted for use in household and industrial cleaning products.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is typically not used as a standalone active cleaner but as a formulation support agent.
Its safety classification depends on concentration and final product form.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is a performance-enhancing auxiliary ingredient.
Sodium xylene sulfonates contribution lies in enabling clarity, stability, manufacturability, and usability.
Modern liquid detergent systems rely heavily on such hydrotropic agents for optimal performance.
Molecular formula: C8H9NaO3S
Molecular weight: 208.21 g/mol
Melting point: 27 °C
Boiling point: 157 °C
Density: 1.17 g/mL (25 °C)
Refractive index: n20/D 1.405
Solubility: Slightly soluble in methanol (heated); slightly soluble in water
Water solubility: ≥10 g/100 mL (20 °C)
Form: Solid
Color: White to off-white
Stability: Stable; combustible; incompatible with acids and oxidizing agents; moisture-sensitive
Cosmetics ingredients functions: Surfactant – hydrotrope
InChI: InChI=1S/C8H10O3S.Na/c1-6-3-4-8(5-7(6)2)12(9,10)11;/h3-5H,1-2H3,(H,9,10,11);/q;+1/p-1
InChIKey: QUCDWLYKDRVKMI-UHFFFAOYSA-M
SMILES: S([O-])(=O)(=O)C1C=CC(C)=C(C)C=1.[Na+]
LogP: 1.390 (estimated)
Sodium xylene sulfonate is an anionic surfactant used in liquid detergent, heavy-duty cleaning, wax stripping, dishwashing detergent formulations, mining flotation and textile applications.
It functions as a solubilizer, coupling agent, and cloud point depressant.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is typically produced as a mixture of isomers (ortho-, meta-, and para-xylene sulfonates).
This isomeric mixture does not significantly affect its performance as a hydrotrope.
Formulation behavior is therefore consistent across commercial grades.
Unlike many surfactants, sodium xylene sulfonate has low surface activity.
Sodium xylene sulfonate does not significantly reduce surface tension on its own.
Instead, it supports other surfactants by keeping them dissolved and stable at high concentrations.
In concentrated liquid detergents, sodium xylene sulfonate helps prevent cloudiness and crystallization.
Sodium xylene sulfonate maintains optical clarity even when formulations contain high levels of actives.
This is especially important for transparent or gel-type cleaners.
The compound exhibits excellent electrolyte tolerance.
Sodium xylene sulfonate remains effective in formulations containing salts, builders, or alkaline components.
This makes it suitable for heavy-duty and industrial cleaning products.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is stable over a wide pH range, from mildly acidic to strongly alkaline conditions.
Sodium xylene sulfonate does not hydrolyze or degrade easily during storage.
This stability contributes to long shelf life of finished products.
From a processing standpoint, sodium xylene sulfonate improves handling and manufacturability.
Sodium xylene sulfonate lowers viscosity, allowing easier pumping, mixing, and filling.
This is valuable in large-scale detergent production.
In comparison with sodium cumene sulfonate, sodium xylene sulfonate generally provides stronger hydrotropic efficiency.
This allows lower use levels to achieve similar solubilization effects.
Formulators often choose between these hydrotropes based on cost and performance balance.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is valued as a support ingredient rather than a primary surfactant.
Its role is to enable high-performance liquid systems that would otherwise be unstable or impractical.
This functional importance explains its widespread use in modern detergent formulations.
Because it does not significantly contribute to foam, sodium xylene sulfonate is favored in low-foam or controlled-foam products.
This is important for automatic cleaning systems and industrial applications.
Sodium xylene sulfonate enhances performance without interfering with foam control.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is valued for its formulation-enabling properties.
Sodium xylene sulfonate improves solubility, clarity, viscosity control, and stability.
Its role is critical in the performance and reliability of modern liquid detergent and cleaner products.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is often categorized specifically as a hydrotropic coupling agent.
Its primary function is to “couple” otherwise incompatible ingredients—such as surfactants and solvents—into a single, stable phase.
This coupling action is especially important in transparent liquid products.
In formulation science, sodium xylene sulfonate helps reduce the Krafft point of certain surfactants.
By doing so, it improves solubility at lower temperatures.
This prevents crystallization or phase separation in cold storage conditions.
Sodium xylene sulfonate also contributes to rheology control.
By lowering excessive viscosity, it ensures that products remain pourable and easy to dispense.
This property is essential in hand soaps, dishwashing liquids, and industrial cleaners.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is valued in high-solid-content systems.
As detergent actives increase in concentration, the risk of instability grows.
Hydrotropes like sodium xylene sulfonate make such concentrated products technically feasible.
Uses:
Sodium xylene sulfonateis a hydrotrope used to solubilise hydrophobic compounds and in aqueous solutions as well is in the study of liposome systems.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is widely used in liquid detergent formulations.
It functions as a hydrotrope to keep surfactants and other ingredients fully dissolved.
This ensures clarity and stability in high-active liquid products.
In dishwashing liquids, sodium xylene sulfonate helps maintain transparency and consistent viscosity.
It prevents cloudiness and phase separation.
Its role is supportive rather than primary cleaning.
In hard-surface cleaners, it improves solubility of solvents and surfactants.
This enhances product stability in degreasers and multi-purpose cleaners.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is particularly useful in concentrated industrial cleaning systems.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is used in industrial and institutional cleaners.
It supports high-alkaline and high-solvent formulations.
This makes it suitable for metal cleaners, floor cleaners, and heavy-duty degreasers.
In personal care and hand soaps, it is used as a formulation aid.
It helps control viscosity and maintain product clarity.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is not used for its cleansing strength but for solubilization.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is applied in agricultural formulations.
It acts as a wetting and dispersing aid in certain pesticide and herbicide systems.
Sodium xylene sulfonates hydrotropic behavior improves ingredient compatibility.
In oilfield and industrial processing chemicals, it supports emulsification and solubilization.
It helps stabilize mixtures containing surfactants and solvents.
This enhances processing reliability.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is used where clarity, solubility, and formulation stability are required.
Its primary value lies in enabling high-performance liquid systems rather than direct cleaning action.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is used in high-concentration liquid detergents designed for cost efficiency and reduced packaging.
By improving solubility of active ingredients, it allows formulators to increase surfactant loading without instability.
This supports compact and ultra-concentrated product designs.
In laundry detergents (liquid), sodium xylene sulfonate helps maintain uniformity during storage and temperature changes.
It reduces the risk of separation or gel formation.
This ensures consistent dosing and performance.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is applied in automatic cleaning systems where low foam and stable formulations are required.
Sodium xylene sulfonate does not significantly increase foam.
This makes it suitable for spray-and-wash systems and industrial equipment cleaning.
In sanitizing and disinfectant formulations, it supports solubility of active components and fragrances.
Sodium xylene sulfonate helps keep complex formulations homogeneous.
This improves reliability and shelf stability.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is used in construction and building maintenance cleaners.
It helps dissolve greasy soils and maintain clarity in alkaline cleaners used on floors and surfaces.
These products benefit from its electrolyte tolerance.
In transportation and automotive cleaners, it is used to stabilize degreasers and engine-cleaning solutions.
It helps keep solvent-rich systems stable.
This is important for performance and safety.
In specialty chemical formulations, sodium xylene sulfonate is used as a coupling agent.
It enables the combination of surfactants, solvents, and additives that would otherwise separate.
This role is critical in custom and industrial formulations.
Safety Profile:
Sodium xylene sulfonate is generally considered to have low to moderate hazard potential when used at typical formulation levels.
Sodium xylene sulfonate is widely handled in industrial and consumer product manufacturing with standard safety measures.
Hazards are mainly related to irritation rather than toxicity.
Skin contact may cause mild to moderate irritation, especially with prolonged exposure or at high concentrations.
Symptoms can include redness or dryness.
Protective gloves are recommended during handling of concentrates.
Eye contact can cause irritation, redness, and discomfort.
Splashes should be rinsed immediately with plenty of water.
Eye protection is advised in industrial settings.
Inhalation of aerosols or mists may lead to respiratory irritation.
This risk is mainly associated with spray applications or processing operations.
Adequate ventilation helps minimize exposure.
Ingestion of large amounts may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, such as nausea or stomach irritation.
These effects are unlikely under normal use conditions.
Medical advice should be sought if significant quantities are swallowed.
