Way back before people obsessed over green chemistry, industrial chemists looked for cost-effective and reliable sulfonated surfactants. Benzene derivatives, much like Benzene, Mono C10-13-Alkyl Derivs, Dist Residues, Sulfonated, started as petroleum byproducts. Oil companies drew out straight- and branched-chain alkanes, turning them into raw material. Chemical engineers realized the short-chain alkylbenzenes had different properties from the longer C10-C13 chains, noticing changes in solubility and emulsifying strength. By the 1960s, consumer preference plus a boom in detergent demand made this class a staple in soaps and cleaners. Regulatory agencies stepped in once environmental effects became obvious, forcing a shift away from certain toxic structures. The transition from heavily branched alkylbenzenes to linear, sulfonated chains marked a turning point in both safety and performance.
People ask about this surfactant not just because of its chemical mouthful, but because it's a workhorse in cleaning products and industrial emulsifiers. It combines a summer-long tail group from C10 to C13 with a sulfonate head, giving it hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions in a single molecule. This allows it to break grease, trap dirt, or suspend particles in everything from laundry soap to engine degreasers. Broad adoption comes from the fact that the end-residues left after distillation still have value. Companies carve out more profit by sulfonating the leftover residues and selling the result into lower-cost product ranges. Instead of simply discarding the byproducts, the chemical industry finds use for almost everything in the barrel, reducing waste and squeezing more commercial value from each run.
Unlike powdered detergents that make clouds in the air, this sulfonated benzene usually pours out as a brownish to amber, viscous liquid, sometimes semi-solid at room temperature. There is often a faint ammonia or strong detergent smell with hints of oil residues. The material absorbs water easily, dissolving in both cold and hot conditions, which lets it work in almost any process—from oily industrial floors to household kitchens. Surface tension drops quickly after contact with water, so the solution foams readily—sometimes too much if not controlled. The molecule holds up under a range of pH values and resists degradation in both alkaline and mildly acidic media. High temperatures don’t break these down easily, making them reliable in heavy-duty industrial settings.
Manufacturers must declare the composition with details: percentage of active matter, average chain length, and sulfonation degree, plus minor impurities. For most industrial applications, the product arrives with an active content between 40% and 60%, water content disclosed, and color given in Hazen or Gardner values. Labels also call out pH range (typically 6-9 in aqueous solution), and certifications about heavy metal and PCB absence to reassure regulatory bodies and end-users. Any deviation—excess free oil, unsulfonated residues, or trace organochlorines—spells trouble for product registration and raises occupational health questions. The best producers issue full safety data sheets and often participate in third-party audits. Even labeling mistakes can start recalls or spark legal action. No one wants an environmental agency asking about mislabeled sulfonates.
Factories pump out these sulfonated residues through a series of tried-and-tested steps. It starts with distillation of C10-C13 alkylbenzenes, stripping out fractions for higher-value chemicals. What’s left forms the feedstock, which enters a sulfonation reactor—most often falling-film or continuous types—to ensure thorough sulfonation using sulfur trioxide, oleum, or even chlorosulfonic acid. Operators keep a close eye on temperature and residence time because excessive sulfonation breaks down carbon chains and kills yield. Once the reaction runs through, the acid mix is neutralized, usually with caustic soda, giving a homogenous product. Filtration takes care of sludge before the main product enters storage tanks. Waste streams, rich in sodium sulfate or excess lye, head to treatment systems before discharge, reflecting both safety and cost concerns.
Sulfonated benzene doesn’t just stop at surfactancy—it offers a lot of chemical modification possibilities. Labs graft onto the aromatic ring, tweak side chains, or introduce double bonds to tailor the product to a specific use. Crosslinked sulfonate groups increase resilience in tough cleaning jobs. Reductive processes and catalytic hydrogenation help remove unwanted byproducts, and blending with builders or corrosion inhibitors creates specialized formulations. In some cases, companies react the sulfonate with other cationic components to reduce environmental toxicity. Anyone who’s ever mixed surfactants knows the headaches that come with control over charge and reactivity, particularly in complex wastewater settings.
This product goes by a host of trade names and synonyms, reflecting both marketing flair and technical differences. Look for terms like LABSA (Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonic Acid), sulfonated alkylbenzene residues, or even sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (for the purified form). In North America, companies market it under their own proprietary blends, each formula tweaked for local regulations or specific supply chains. Globally, customs tariff codes align under “other organic surface-active agents” or “sulfonated organic derivatives,” which affects import duty and safety compliance. Different countries tack on suffixes or prefixes to comply with language requirements or reinforce branding for household versus industrial targets.
Risk management starts on the factory floor. Strong acids, high temperatures, and caustic bases make the operation hazardous in more than one way. Operators must wear full PPE: gloves, goggles, and splash-resistant suits. Accidental releases can cause skin burns or respiratory effects from airborne mists. Safety standards require secondary containment around sulfonation plants, real-time monitoring for acidic vapors, and emergency showers. Regular training and up-to-date procedures save lives, especially during maintenance shutdowns. Chemical standards, such as those from OSHA in the US or REACH in Europe, dictate maximum impurity levels, exposure limits, and disclosure rules. Blending house rules and local wastewater permits define the environmental playbook. The burden—both moral and legal—is always on the manufacturer to minimize releases and document control systems.
Cheap, reliable surfactants go wherever grease and dirt build up. Household detergents draw heavily on sulfonated alkylbenzene residues for greasy kitchen stains, fabric cleaning, and dishwashing. Municipal water treatment pulls in these products to break up fats, oils, and grease in sewer lines—one of the unglamorous but necessary parts of public health. On the industrial side, heavy-duty degreasers, emulsion polymerization, and textile scouring each rely on the molecule’s ability to disperse and emulsify a wide range of contaminants. During oil drilling and fracking, stabilizing drilling fluids with robust surfactants can mean the difference between a smooth operation and costly downtime. Asphalt production pulls in sulfonates as emulsifiers for road-building, a little-known but vital use that keeps infrastructure costs under control.
Chemists keep chasing smarter ways to make sulfonated derivatives. Lab teams experiment with greener sulfonation routes, using less energy or generating less acidic waste. One trend looks at biodegradable alternatives that still hit the right balance of foaming and cleaning but break down faster in the environment. Others run pilot trials on bio-based feedstocks—using plant oils instead of petroleum—to cut fossil carbon footprints. Engineers and analytical chemists spend time hounding out trace impurities, using high-res LC/MS or NMR, chasing compliance with ever-tighter environmental regulations. Academic collaborations try to map out the molecular-level structure-function relationships, feeding insights back to both producers and regulators. All this comes with a budget imperative: trim cost, boost yield, stay ahead of restrictions, and predict what lawmakers will decide next.
No discussion of sulfonated benzene would be honest without straight talk about toxicity. Early blends released into rivers hammered aquatic life, leading to fish kills and foam-covered streams. Regulators pushed back, forcing newer products through rigorous eco-toxicity trials. Public health studies connected long-term exposure to potential skin and respiratory impacts, especially for workers not properly protected. Endocrine disruption fears crop up in some organics, though studies remain inconclusive. Europe introduced standardized test batteries—acute and chronic toxicity, bioaccumulation, breakdown rates—making or breaking market access depending on the outcomes. Companies fund acute toxicity research, monitor effluent, and tweak molecular structures to survive approval. Transparency and honest communication with communities proved essential once local news outlets started investigating spills or fish die-offs near production plants.
Sulfonated benzene faces more pressure to “green up” than ever. Campaigns to reduce persistent organic pollutants keep the industry on its toes, and every drop released in effluent winds up under scrutiny. Producers invest heavily in catalyst recycling, advanced waste treatment, and alternative synthesis pathways like enzymatic sulfonation. Consumer trends—especially in Europe—favor short-lived, low-toxicity products over traditional petrochemicals, driving innovation in both formulation and feedstock sources. It’s tough to balance raw cost advantages with mounting compliance costs, but only companies that stay ahead of environmental and health requirements can keep growing. New applications—like using modified sulfonates for lithium extraction or wastewater treatment—hug the edge of future growth. What gets us there isn’t just chemistry; it’s listening to customers, regulators, and the communities that bear the risk and see the benefit.
For most folks, the name “sulfonated benzene, mono C10-13-alkyl derivs” sounds like something safely locked away in a lab. In reality, it shapes far more industries than people realize. These compounds bring backbone to modern cleaning: they make tough grease and grime let go. After working years in the industrial supply chain, I’ve seen firsthand how these chemicals work behind the scenes, keeping things moving smoothly on shop floors and city streets alike.
Sulfonated alkyl-benzene residues pull their weight in detergents. Formulators blend them into commercial laundry powders, household cleaners, and even dish soaps. The secret is their surfactant nature – the chemical structure loves water on one end and grease on the other. Dishes and fabrics come out cleaner not because of elbow grease but because molecules like these break the bond between soil and surface. Factories using these chemicals see real savings – less product waste, more efficient cleaning, and lower energy costs from reduced wash cycles.
Some of the more robust applications show up on the farm. Pesticides and herbicides don’t always dissolve easily in water or oil, which makes them tricky to spray evenly on fields. These sulfonated residues solve the problem. By emulsifying stubborn liquids, they help deliver active ingredients right where farmers need them. I’ve met crop managers who count on this chemistry for better coverage and consistent yields—even small improvements mean healthier crops and reduced chemical use, issues that matter from both a farming and environmental standpoint.
On the shop floor or under the hood, moving parts demand more than just oil—they need that oil to resist breaking down under pressure. These sulfonated residues show up in lubricant blends, making fluids more stable and preventing wear on engines and industrial machines. Mechanics and plant engineers who switch to these lubes notice their equipment runs with fewer breakdowns and less maintenance downtime. Tougher fluids mean machines last longer, which keeps businesses from bleeding money into constant repairs.
In tanneries, treating leather with consistency can be a headache. These chemicals smooth out the process, helping dyes and treatments soak in deeply and evenly. My time at a textile mill taught me that unpredictability in dye uptake costs time and raw materials. With the right surfactant mix, fabrics take color better, leading to less waste in both water and chemicals. Cleaner processes make higher-quality goods—this translates directly into cost savings and customer trust.
Efforts today keep pushing for safer, greener alternatives. Some companies already blend in biodegradable surfactants and seek stricter control over runoff from manufacturing. Real improvement takes industry-wide transparency and input from experienced chemists, supply chain veterans, and regulatory agencies. From laundry experts to shop-floor technicians, those using these chemicals are shaping a future where powerful cleaning and processing doesn’t need to come at the cost of health or environment. In a world where supply chain disruptions hit everyone from families to big business, dependable and responsible production of these vital chemicals helps everyone breathe a bit easier.
Every product tells a story, from its origins to its journey into our homes and daily routines. Some raise eyebrows right out of the gate—cleaners with powerful fumes, paints that sting your nose, or weed killers with warnings printed all over the label. My own kitchen carries traces of this dilemma: shelves crowded with bottles bearing unfamiliar chemical names and colorful hazard symbols. Years ago, a single spill from a heavy-duty cleaner left me with stinging eyes and a headache that lasted the day. At home, these moments spark questions—does this product behave safely for my health or the world outside my door?
Not every risk leaps out from the fine print. Consumer products often carry ingredients that stick around in water, soil, or our bodies. The Environmental Protection Agency keeps finding remnants of pesticides and flame retardants turning up where they don’t belong—streams, dust in living rooms, even in the blood of newborns. Reach for laundry detergents promising whiter whites, and you may find phosphates that flow down drains and end up fueling algae blooms in rivers. That same cleaning power, harnessed for a kitchen counter, pushes pollution into fish habitats.
Folks working in nail salons or those patching up walls with solvents know firsthand the cost of frequent, close contact with strong chemicals. Research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health shows increased rates of respiratory and skin issues among those using these materials day after day. Many everyday products, even after strict regulation, still sometimes slip through with ingredients that leave long-term footprints.
Information empowers choice, but finding good guidance can be tough. Large health organizations and governments push for clear ingredient labels, yet many items carry technical jargon that keeps the real story hidden. Words like “fragrance” cover a patchwork of chemicals, some linked to allergies or hormone disruption. Families deserve straight talk: What’s in the bottle? Where does it end up?
People often look to certifications—Green Seal, EPA Safer Choice, or EWG Verified—hoping these marks signal a safer pick. Certifications vary, so it pays to check what’s behind each logo. Some focus mostly on toxicity, others on impact to rivers or climate.
Simply swapping out one item won’t solve the puzzle. Local communities often bear a higher burden: factories near low-income neighborhoods sometimes release more hazardous byproducts, leaving residents with higher asthma rates or risks of water contamination. The fight for safer products circles back to the companies making our stuff. Pushing for stronger rules on what goes into products, plus greater transparency, helps level the playing field for everyone.
Change often starts small. At home, swapping out harsh cleaners for vinegar or baking soda chips away at risk. At a bigger scale, demanding reliable ingredient information from stores and manufacturers builds momentum. Supporting laws that require full ingredient disclosure drives companies to rethink their recipes before the product even leaves the factory.
Trust in the safety of everyday goods shouldn’t take a chemistry degree. Choosing wisely, pushing for honesty, and pushing for cleaner alternatives lifts health for people and the planet alike—without locking out those on tighter budgets. As stories like mine show, everyone holds a stake in demanding products that don’t gamble with our futures.
I’ve seen what happens when folks skip over the basic rules in storage and handling. It doesn’t matter if it’s medicine in a pharmacy back room, raw produce in a grocer’s cooler, or paint cans in a hardware store—mistakes cost money and sometimes create real safety hazards. Most damage, spoilage, or even recalls link straight back to simple carelessness. Guidance exists for a reason, and ignoring these steps can turn one weak link into a whole chain of problems.
Any product with a shelf life reacts to temperature swings. Soft drinks lose carbonation, vegetables wilt, and vaccines lose effectiveness. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that even small mistakes in storing medical products can change how well they work. I still remember my father’s stories from his years in a grocery: one iced truck stuck in traffic during a summer delivery ruined half a pallet of lettuce. Thermometers, frequent checks, and recording temperatures—these steps beat discovering spoilage later.
It’s easier to spot rotten fruit than subtle moisture damage in dry goods, electronics, or paper files. Bags puff up in the pantry, circuit boards corrode, and photos curl. High humidity fuels mold and mildew, while low humidity dries out wood, leather, or textiles. Hygrometers help track the safe zones, and plenty of manufacturers include silica gel packs or airtight wraps because they know one rainy day can ruin a shipment. Once I lost a box of childhood baseball cards left in a damp basement—lesson learned.
Crowded shelves or dusty corners create perfect spots for pests, spills, or cross-contamination. Food recalls often stem from mixing up ingredients or letting dust build up near open containers. I think back to my kitchen at home: I save time and waste less by labeling leftovers, cleaning up as I go, and keeping the raw meat away from ready-to-eat food. Warehouses and retail back rooms profit from the same habits. The Food Safety Modernization Act urges businesses to train workers to spot and fix these storage dangers.
Some people still cut corners lifting heavy boxes or forget gloves around harsh chemicals. I’ve personally thrown out my back after mishandling a load in the garage, so I get why OSHA pushes for practical training. Labels, color codes, checklists—these help even tired or distracted staff remember the basic steps. Explaining the “why” behind every rule also helps. One worker’s mistake can send injuries down the line, making everyone’s shift harder.
Old-school clipboards work, but sensors and alarms make it easier to catch mistakes before they spread. Automation helps maintain routines, but nothing replaces regular walkthroughs and open communication. Remote monitoring and QR-coded inventory help spot missing stock, wrong temperatures, or leaks before bigger problems start. From small shops to big manufacturers, investing in tools saves money, labor, and reduces risk.
Safe storage and handling aren’t just checkboxes in a manual—they affect health, business costs, and even family dinner. The brands I trust most invest in staff training, clean storage areas, and the right equipment to keep products in top shape. Most bad experiences—spoiled milk, dusty shelves, broken jars—trace back to skipping steps. Regular reminders, clear signs, and a culture that rewards doing things right add up. People remember both the mistakes and the extra care, and that shapes trust over time.
I've always found that asking about the chemical makeup or CAS number of a product isn’t nitpicking. For most folks, this kind of question comes from the need for safety and the desire to make informed choices about the products they bring home or use at work. The chemical composition of a product shapes everything from its safety profile and shelf life to how it interacts with other materials.
Take a simple cleaning product you might see on a store shelf. That bottle probably lists a handful of ingredients, but the real identity of each compound often shows up as something called a CAS number—a unique identifier recognized around the world. Relying on these numbers helps cut through the confusion of common names, brand terminology, or local lingo. This becomes especially important for families with sensitive skin, allergies, or health concerns, and for workplaces aiming to meet strict safety regulations.
In my experience, the gap between the marketing on the front label and the details buried on the back can get pretty wide. Many times, companies highlight what’s missing—things like “paraben-free” or “phosphate-free”—but leave the actual chemical roster vague. For anyone working in education, healthcare, or industrial safety, this incomplete picture poses a real problem.
Knowing a product’s actual constituents means people can cross-reference each compound for toxicity, reactions, and environmental impact. Sites like the European Chemicals Agency or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency publish safety profiles based on CAS numbers, making life easier for someone who wants hard facts before using a substance. With these resources, consumers and professionals spot hazardous combinations and steer clear of ingredients flagged in scientific research.
Over the years, I’ve come to see how product trust builds up—or falls apart—based on transparency. Food, medicine, skincare, cleaning supplies—all of these touch everyday lives, often in deeply personal ways. Cases of recalls, allergic reactions, or environmental spills usually crop up where ingredient lists hide information. Open disclosure using CAS numbers leaves no room for shadowy practices or surprise hazards.
Laws and certification programs now push companies to open up. The REACH regulation in Europe and the Toxic Substances Control Act in the United States both demand clear, up-to-date ingredient lists, using standardized identification like those CAS numbers. This benefits everyone, from parents making safer choices to industrial buyers looking to avoid workplace incidents. Strong rules not only protect consumers, but also level the playing field for manufacturers who prioritize safety and responsibility.
Clear communication around chemical composition is more than a regulatory box to tick. It means real people can avoid buying products that don’t fit their needs or run the risk of harmful exposure. For the scientific community, full disclosure fuels innovation and allows researchers to focus on greener, safer alternatives without second-guessing basic data.
At the end of the day, whether picking up a bottle of shampoo, a jar of food, or an industrial solvent, the request for a CAS number or a full ingredient list isn’t about red tape. It’s a practical way to foster trust, reduce health risks, and help everyone make smarter, safer decisions in a world where what goes into a product matters more than ever.
Green buzzwords pop up everywhere now. “Biodegradable,” “eco-friendly,” “compostable”—they jump off packaging in bold letters, promising a cleaner world. They tug at us in the grocery aisle and online shops, making it feel like one simple switch will fix plastic pollution. The thing is, these words don’t always mean what we hope. Regulations give some guidance, but walking into any big-box store reveals the confusion. What does biodegradable mean according to law, and does eco-friendly always equal harmless?
Biodegradable suggests an item breaks down safely in nature, but there’s a catch. Regulators like the U.S. Federal Trade Commission require proof a product will decompose completely and safely in a “reasonably short period of time” after disposal. In the European Union, the term gets attention from product standards like EN 13432 for packaging, which sets time frames and conditions for disintegration and chemical breakdown. Compostable has even stricter testing hurdles.
My own experience working with local compost groups taught me not every “biodegradable” cup dissolves in backyard piles. Plenty of these cups need industrial-scale heat and humidity found only in large facilities. Some leave plastic fragments behind, invisible to the eye but still present. Labels look reassuring, but unless a product proves its breakdown in home compost or in soil (not just a controlled chamber), the word “biodegradable” feels stretched thin.
The phrase “eco-friendly” sits all over products in bright green fonts. Regulations are less focused here. In the U.S., eco-friendly branding gets a warning from the FTC through their Green Guides, batting down claims that look misleading or can’t be backed up. But companies still toss it around, sometimes justified, sometimes wishful.
Not all eco-friendly goods steer clear of serious environmental harm. Take plastic bags labeled “oxo-biodegradable”—they fragment faster under sunlight, but studies in real world litter and landfill settings show they linger as microplastics. Real environmental impact stays hidden behind green branding. What matters more: production footprint, impact on wildlife, soil, and water, or just a faster breakdown?
Buying greener means more than grabbing the first “biodegradable” bag on a shelf. I’ve spoken with waste haulers who say compost bins fill with plastics branded as planet-safe, but their sorting systems pull those out and send them to landfill. Sticky rules help clear confusion. Tightening up definitions, requiring third-party verification, and clear logos for “home compostable” or “industrial only” make it possible for people to vote with their wallets—and get what they’re promised.
Tech isn’t magic here. Real solutions tackle the whole life story—reduced packaging, focusing on reusable over disposable, city and neighborhood composting programs, and honest information about what a product does in real air, soil, and water. Education builds resilience too: showing what happens to stuff after the bin keeps pressure on brands and lawmakers.
Eco-label rules and science should stay grounded in our real-world habits. Stronger laws, more transparency, and consumers who push for clear answers make those green labels mean something. No buzzword alone saves the planet, but real information, checks and balances, and smarter choices move us further than sweet-sounding promises.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | Benzenesulfonic acids, mono-C10-13-alkyl derivatives, distn. residues |
| Other names |
Benzenesulfonic acid, mono-C10-13-alkyl derivs., distn. residues Benzenesulfonic acid, C10-13-alkyl derivs., distillation residues |
| Pronunciation | /bɛnˈziːn ˈmɒnoʊ siː tɛn tuː θɜrˈtiːn ˈæl.kɪl ˈdɛr.ɪvz dɪst ˈrɛz.ɪ.djuːz sʌlˈfəʊ.neɪ.tɪd/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 84989-15-1 |
| 3D model (JSmol) | `CC1=CC=CC=C1S(=O)(=O)O` |
| Beilstein Reference | 1721446 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:91222 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1935238 |
| ChemSpider | 3393528 |
| DrugBank | DB11270 |
| ECHA InfoCard | ECHA InfoCard: 100.196.590 |
| EC Number | 270-425-4 |
| Gmelin Reference | 100262 |
| KEGG | C01776 |
| MeSH | D014780 |
| PubChem CID | 119221080 |
| RTECS number | GO8850000 |
| UNII | H1T1UOY3RK |
| UN number | UN2586 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C6H5CnH2n+1SO3H |
| Appearance | Brown viscous liquid |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 1.04 g/cm3 |
| Solubility in water | insoluble |
| log P | -1.2 |
| Vapor pressure | <0.01 hPa (20°C) |
| Acidity (pKa) | <5 |
| Basicity (pKb) | > 2.5 to 7.5 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -1.2E-4 |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.527 |
| Dipole moment | 0.00 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | Std molar entropy (S⦵298) of Benzene, Mono C10-13-Alkyl Derivs, Dist Residues, Sulfonated |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -107.46 kJ/mol |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -8874.4 kJ/mol |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | D02AA10 |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | Causes serious eye irritation. Causes skin irritation. Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
| GHS labelling | GHS07, GHS08 |
| Pictograms | GHSGHS07,GHSGHS09 |
| Signal word | Danger |
| Hazard statements | H315: Causes skin irritation. H319: Causes serious eye irritation. H412: Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
| Precautionary statements | Precautionary statements: Avoid release to the environment. Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection. |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 2-0-0 |
| Flash point | >100°C (212°F) |
| LD50 (median dose) | > 2,000 mg/kg (Rat, Oral) |
| PEL (Permissible) | 5 mg/m3 |
| REL (Recommended) | 0.3 mg/m³ |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Benzene, C10-13-alkyl derivatives Benzene Sulfonic Acid, Mono-C10-13-alkyl Derivs., Calcium Salts Benzenesulfonic acid, dodecyl- Sulfonic acids, petroleum, sodium salts Alkylbenzenesulfonic acid |
