sodium dodecyl sulfate

chemical compound

Also known as: SDS

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

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Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a chemical compound with the formula C₁₂H₂₅NaO₄S. It is the crystalline sodium salt of sulfated lauryl alcohol.1

SLS is a type of anionic detergent, meaning it is a synthetic detergent that contains an alkali metal salt of a strong acid. It is used as a detergent, wetting agent, and emulsifying agent in various products such as toothpastes, ointments, and shampoos.21

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separation and purification
Field separations
…excess of detergent, such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The resulting SDS-protein complexes have the same charge density and shape and are therefore resolved according to size in a gel matrix. This method is useful in characterizing proteins and evaluating their purity.
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…excess of detergent, such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The resulting SDS-protein complexes have the same charge density and shape and are therefore resolved according to size in a gel matrix. This method is useful in characterizing proteins and evaluating their purity.
Read More