Surfactants stand among the most versatile chemical building blocks in modern manufacturing. By lowering surface tension between immiscible phases, these amphiphilic compounds enable everything from stable emulsions and controlled foaming to efficient dispersion and targeted wetting. Whether a formulation demands robust cleaning power, gentle conditioning, or specialized phase-transfer behavior, the choice of surfactant fundamentally determines its performance ceiling.
At Eata Suganol, we curate a comprehensive portfolio of surfactant raw materials spanning all four major charge classes. Our catalog brings together rigorously tested anionic, cationic, nonionic, and amphoteric surfactants in grades suited to industrial production lines and research laboratories alike. Every batch is characterized for active content, purity, and consistency so that formulators can scale from bench to plant without surprises.
Fig. 1: Surfactant-stabilized foam and emulsion in a laboratory beaker, demonstrating the interfacial activity that makes these compounds indispensable across industries.
Understanding Surfactant Chemistry
Every surfactant molecule carries a dual identity: a hydrophilic head group drawn to water and a hydrophobic tail that seeks oil or air. This Janus-like structure drives molecules to accumulate at interfaces, where they reduce surface tension and enable processes that would otherwise be thermodynamically unfavorable. Above the critical micelle concentration (CMC), surfactants self-assemble into micelles — nanoscale aggregates that can solubilize oils, suspend particulates, and deliver active ingredients with precision.
The head group's charge defines the four principal families. Anionic surfactants carry a negative charge and excel at cleaning and foaming. Cationic surfactants bear a positive charge, making them natural choices for conditioning and antimicrobial roles. Nonionic surfactants operate without a charge, offering exceptional compatibility and mildness. Amphoteric surfactants shift their charge with pH, bridging the gap between classes and enhancing formulation flexibility. Understanding these distinctions is the first step toward selecting the right raw material for any given application.
Fig. 2: Molecular representation of amphiphilic surfactant molecules aligning at an oil-water interface, with hydrophilic head groups oriented toward the aqueous phase.
Anionic surfactants represent the largest volume segment in global surfactant consumption, and for good reason. Their negatively charged head groups deliver outstanding detergency, rapid wetting, and rich, stable foam — properties that underpin countless cleaning and personal-care formulations. In industrial settings, they serve as emulsifiers, dispersants, and wetting agents where robust performance under hard-water conditions is essential.
Our anionic product line covers sulfate, sulfonate, and phosphate chemistries across multiple chain lengths and counter-ion configurations. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), also known as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS, CAS 151-21-3), remains a benchmark for high-foam cleaning and protein denaturation studies in research labs. Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES, CAS 68585-34-2) offers a milder profile with excellent foam stability, making it a workhorse in cleansing formulations. Sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS, CAS 25155-30-0) delivers powerful emulsification and detergency for industrial cleaning, while alpha-olefin sulfonates (AOS) provide exceptional hard-water tolerance and biodegradability.
Representative Anionic Surfactant Products:
| Product Name |
Abbrev. |
CAS No. |
Typical Form |
Key Characteristics |
| Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate |
SDS / SLS |
151-21-3 |
White powder / needles |
High foam, strong detergency, research standard |
| Sodium Laureth Sulfate |
SLES |
68585-34-2 |
Pale yellow paste (70%) |
Mild, excellent foam stability, versatile cleanser |
| Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate |
SDBS / LAS |
25155-30-0 |
Powder / flake (60-90%) |
Powerful emulsification, industrial detergency |
| Alpha-Olefin Sulfonate |
AOS |
68439-57-6 |
Powder / liquid (35-92%) |
Hard-water tolerant, biodegradable, high foaming |
| Sodium Coco Sulfate |
SCS |
81845-24-9 |
Powder / flake (≥95%) |
Mild, plant-derived, good foaming cleanser |
Fig. 3: Crystalline anionic surfactant powder (SDS-grade) displayed in a glass petri dish, showcasing the needle-like morphology typical of high-purity sulfate surfactants.
Where anionic surfactants dominate cleaning, cationic surfactants excel at adhesion. Their positively charged head groups are strongly attracted to negatively charged surfaces — hair, fabric fibers, skin, and microbial cell membranes — leaving behind a conditioning film that reduces static, improves softness, and inhibits microbial growth. This affinity makes them irreplaceable in fabric softeners, hair conditioners, and antimicrobial formulations.
Our cationic portfolio centers on quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) and related structures. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB, CAS 57-09-0) is a high-purity quaternary ammonium surfactant widely used as a phase-transfer catalyst, a template in mesoporous material synthesis, and a DNA extraction reagent in molecular biology. Cetrimonium chloride (CTAC, CAS 112-02-7) finds broad use in hair conditioning and textile softening. Benzalkonium chloride (BAC, CAS 63449-41-2) serves as an effective antimicrobial agent and preservative. For researchers working on nanoparticle synthesis or membrane studies, our cationic surfactants are supplied with detailed CMC and surface-tension data.
- Quats: Quaternary ammonium compounds with C12--C16 alkyl chains for conditioning and antimicrobial applications.
- High-purity grades: CTAB and CTAC supplied as powders or aqueous solutions (30--70% active) with certified purity.
- Specialty structures: Imidazolinium-based cationics with high thermal stability for textile printing and industrial finishing.
Nonionic surfactants operate without a formal charge, relying on polar groups — typically polyoxyethylene chains or sugar moieties — for their hydrophilic character. This charge-neutral design confers two enormous advantages: exceptional compatibility with all other surfactant classes, and remarkable mildness. They generate less foam than anionics but produce more stable emulsions, resist hard-water ions, and function effectively across a broad pH range. These traits have made nonionics the backbone of modern emulsion technology.
Eata Suganol's nonionic range spans ethoxylates, sorbitan esters, polysorbates, and sugar-derived alkyl polyglucosides. Polysorbate 80 (Tween 80, CAS 9005-65-6), an amber viscous liquid with an HLB of approximately 15, is one of the most widely used emulsifiers and solubilizers in research and industry. Its counterpart, Span 80 (sorbitan monooleate, CAS 1338-43-8), is a lipophilic nonionic surfactant (HLB ~4.3) that pairs with Tween series products to fine-tune emulsion HLB. Alcohol ethoxylates (AEO) with varying EO mole ratios (3--50) serve as industrial detergents and wetting agents. We also offer alkyl polyglucosides (APG, CAS 68515-73-1 / 110615-47-9) — plant-derived, readily biodegradable nonionic surfactants synthesized from renewable glucose and fatty alcohols, reflecting our commitment to sustainable chemistry.
Representative Nonionic Surfactant Products:
| Product Name |
Abbrev. |
CAS No. |
HLB |
Typical Form & Use |
| Polysorbate 80 |
Tween 80 |
9005-65-6 |
~15 |
Amber viscous liquid; O/W emulsifier, solubilizer |
| Polysorbate 20 |
Tween 20 |
9005-64-5 |
~16.7 |
Yellow liquid; mild emulsifier, detergent |
| Sorbitan Monooleate |
Span 80 |
1338-43-8 |
~4.3 |
Amber oily liquid; W/O emulsifier, co-emulsifier |
| Sorbitan Monolaurate |
Span 20 |
1338-39-2 |
~8.6 |
Yellow viscous liquid; W/O emulsifier, wetting agent |
| Alkyl Polyglucoside |
APG |
68515-73-1 |
12--14 |
Pale yellow liquid; plant-derived, biodegradable, mild |
| Alcohol Ethoxylate (C12-14, EO-9) |
AEO-9 |
68439-50-9 |
~13 |
Paste / liquid; industrial detergent, wetting agent |
Fig. 4: Amber viscous nonionic surfactant liquid (Polysorbate 80-grade) being poured into a beaker, illustrating the oily texture and light-refractive properties characteristic of ethoxylated sorbitan esters.
Amphoteric surfactants are the chameleons of the surfactant world. Their head groups contain both acidic and basic functionalities, allowing the net charge to shift from cationic in acidic conditions to anionic in alkaline environments, with a zwitterionic state at neutral pH. This adaptability translates into outstanding formulation flexibility: amphoterics boost foam, build viscosity, reduce irritation, and enhance compatibility when blended with anionic or cationic surfactants.
Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB, CAS 61789-40-0) is the cornerstone of our amphoteric portfolio. Derived from coconut oil fatty acids, this clear to pale yellow liquid delivers excellent foaming, foam stabilization, and viscosity-building properties while remaining remarkably mild. It is routinely paired with SLES or SDS to reduce irritation and boost foam quality in cleansing systems. Lauryl betaine (BS-12, CAS 683-10-3) offers similar benefits with a simpler molecular architecture. Lauramidopropyl betaine, based on pure lauric acid, provides superior viscosity building compared to standard coco-derived betaines. For formulations targeting extreme pH stability or specialized electrolyte tolerance, our technical team can recommend tailored amphoteric structures.
- Flagship product: Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) supplied as 30--35% active aqueous solutions with low free-amamine specs.
- Betaine variants: Lauryl betaine and lauramidopropyl betaine for high-foam, high-viscosity formulation needs.
- Sultaine chemistry: Hydroxysultaine structures for enhanced electrolyte tolerance and stability across wide pH ranges.
Fig. 5: Clear pale yellow amphoteric surfactant solution (CAPB-grade) in a glass Erlenmeyer flask, demonstrating the transparent appearance typical of high-quality betaine surfactants.
Industrial & Research Applications
The breadth of surfactant utility is difficult to overstate. A single compound may serve as an emulsifier in one formulation and a dispersant in another, depending on concentration, temperature, and the surrounding matrix. Below is a snapshot of the application areas where our surfactant raw materials are routinely deployed.
- Home & industrial cleaning: SDS, SLES, and AOS form the cleaning backbone of laundry detergents, dishwashing liquids, and all-purpose cleaners.
- Emulsion technology: Tween and Span series enable stable oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions for creams, lotions, and topical formulations.
- Materials science: CTAB serves as a phase-transfer catalyst and structure-directing agent in nanoparticle and mesoporous material synthesis.
- Life sciences research: SDS is the standard denaturing detergent in PAGE electrophoresis; Tween 20 is ubiquitous in Western blot and ELISA buffers.
- Personal care formulation: Cationic quats condition hair and fabrics; amphoteric betaines boost foam and viscosity while reducing skin and eye irritation.
- Agrochemicals & coatings: Nonionic AEOs and anionic sulfonates act as wetting agents, dispersants, and emulsifiers in agricultural, textile, and coating processes.
Fig. 6: A curated arrangement of surfactant raw materials in various physical forms — crystalline powder, clear solution, amber viscous oil, and foamy emulsion — representing the diversity of our product portfolio.
Every formulation is unique, and standard catalog products do not always meet the precise requirements of a challenging project. Eata Suganol offers custom surfactant synthesis and tailored specification services for clients whose demands fall outside our standard product range. Whether you need a specific alkyl chain distribution, a targeted degree of ethoxylation, a custom counter-ion, or a novel amphiphilic structure, our technical team works closely with you to define, synthesize, and validate the exact material your application requires.
Our custom services extend to blend development as well. Many formulations benefit from pre-blended surfactant systems optimized for HLB, foam profile, or viscosity response. We can prepare custom blends at specified active concentrations, with documented compatibility data and batch-to-batch consistency guarantees. From gram-scale research quantities to industrial production volumes, our flexible manufacturing infrastructure scales with your project.
Why Partner with Eata Suganol
Selecting a surfactant supplier is ultimately about trust — trust in purity, trust in consistency, and trust in technical support. Eata Suganol has built its reputation on all three. Every product leaves our facility with a certificate of analysis detailing active content, moisture, pH, and relevant impurity profiles. Our quality control laboratories employ standardized analytical methods to verify that each batch meets its declared specifications before shipment.
Beyond quality, we distinguish ourselves through technical depth. Our team understands surfactant chemistry at the molecular level and can guide you through HLB calculations, compatibility studies, and formulation troubleshooting. Whether you are a research scientist seeking a high-purity reagent for a published protocol or a production engineer scaling a new cleaning formulation, we provide the materials and the expertise to help you succeed.
For Research or Industrial Raw Materials, Not For Personal Medical Use!
