Sodium Laureth Sulfate 3EO (SLES-3EO) is an anionic surfactant.  3EO indicates that its molecule contains 3 ethoxy (-CH₂CH₂O-) units attached to the lauryl hydrophobic chain. It is a widely used mild surfactant in the daily chemical and cleaning industries. Basic Structure and Properties Chemical Structure: The general structural formula is: CH3(CH2)10CH2(OCH2CH2)3OSO3Na. It mainly consists of three parts: Hydrophobic group: Lauryl group (C₁₂ alkyl chain) Connecting group: 3 ethoxy units Hydrophilic group: Sodium sulfate ester group Core Performance Outstanding Mildness: Compared to SLS (0EO) and SLES-1EO, the introduction of 3 ethoxy units significantly reduces skin and eye irritation, making it a commonly used mild cleansing and foaming ingredient in personal care products. Excellent Water Solubility: The increased number of ethoxy units enhances hydrophilicity, maintaining good solubility even at low temperatures and preventing precipitation and stratification. Balanced Foaming and Cleaning: It produces rich and dense foam that is easy to rinse off, and has moderate cleaning power, effectively cleaning grease and dirt without excessive degreasing that leads to dry skin. Strong Hard Water Resistance: It exhibits good stability in hard water containing calcium and magnesium ions, and the cleaning effect does not significantly decrease. Good Compatibility: It can be compounded with non-ionic and amphoteric surfactants (such as cocamidopropyl betaine, alkyl glycosides), further improving mildness and foaming properties; caution is needed when compounding with cationic surfactants to avoid precipitation. Main Application Areas Personal Care Products It is a core ingredient in shampoos, shower gels, facial cleansers, and baby care products, especially suitable for sensitive skin and infant care formulations, with a typical addition ratio of 5%–20%. Household Cleaning Products Used in dishwashing detergents, laundry detergents, hand soaps, etc., balancing cleaning power and mildness, reducing irritation to the skin of the hands. Industrial Applications It can be used as a wetting agent in the textile industry, a pesticide emulsifier, and a leather degreasing agent, achieving efficient processing under mild conditions. Differences from similar products Product Eo Number Water-Soluble Mildness Detergency SLS 0 General Lower Strong SLES-1EO 1 Better Moderate Stronger SLES-2EO/3EO 2-3 Very Good Higher Moderate Precautions: Although generally mild, high concentrations (>20%) may still irritate sensitive skin; therefore, the amount used in formulations should be controlled. Store in a sealed container in a cool, dry place, avoiding contact with strong acids and high temperatures to prevent hydrolysis and loss of activity.