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Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; Sodium Lauryl Sulphate

(Sodium Laurilsulfate, Ph Eur monograph 0098)


Action and use
Anionic emulsifying agent.
Ph Eur

DEFINITION
Mixture of sodium alkyl sulfates consisting chiefly of sodium dodecyl sulfate (C 12H25NaO4S; Mr
288.4).
Content:
sodium alkyl sulfates: minimum 85.0 per cent, expressed as C12H25NaO4S.
CHARACTERS
Appearance
White or pale yellow, powder or crystals.
Solubility
Freely soluble in water giving an opalescent solution, partly soluble in ethanol (96 per cent).
IDENTIFICATION
A. Dissolve 0.1 g in 10 mL of water R and shake. A copious foam is formed.
B. To 0.1 mL of the solution prepared for identification test A, add 0.1 mL of a 1 g/L solution of
methylene blue R and 2 mL of dilute sulfuric acid R. Add 2 mL of methylene chloride R and shake. An
intense blue colour develops in the methylene chloride layer.
C. Mix about 10 mg with 10 mL of anhydrous ethanol R. Heat to boiling on a water-bath,
shaking frequently. Filter immediately and evaporate the ethanol. Dissolve the residue in 8 mL of water R,
add 3 mL of dilute hydrochloric acid R, evaporate the solution to half its volume and allow to cool.
Separate the congealed fatty alcohols by filtration. To the filtrate add 1 mL of barium chloride solution R1.
A white, crystalline precipitate is formed.
D. Ignite 0.5 g. The residue gives reaction (a) of sodium ( 2.3.1).
TESTS
Alkalinity
Dissolve 1.0 g in 100 mL of carbon dioxide-free water R and add 0.1 mL of phenol red solution
R. Not more than 0.5 mL of 0.1 M hydrochloric acid is required to change the colour of the indicator.

Non-esterified alcohols
Maximum 4 per cent.
Dissolve 10 g in 100 mL of water R, add 100 mL of ethanol (96 per cent) R and shake the
solution with 3 quantities, each of 50 mL, of pentane R, adding sodium chloride R, if necessary, to
promote separation of the 2 layers. Wash the combined organic layers with 3 quantities, each of 50 mL,
of water R, dry over anhydrous sodium sulfate R, filter and evaporate on a water-bath until the solvent
has evaporated. Heat the residue at 105 C for 15 min and cool. The residue weighs a maximum of 0.4
g.
Sodium chloride and sodium sulfate
Maximum 8.0 per cent for the total percentage content.
Sodium chloride
Dissolve 5.00 g in 50 mL of water R, add dilute nitric acid R dropwise until the solution is neutral
to blue litmus paper R, add 2 mL of potassium chromate solution R and titrate with 0.1 M silver nitrate.
1 mL of 0.1 M silver nitrate is equivalent to 5.844 mg of NaCl.
Sodium sulfate
Dissolve 0.500 g in 20 mL of water R, warming gently if necessary, then add 1 mL of a 0.5 g/L
solution of dithizone R1 in acetone R. If the solution is red, add 1 M nitric acid, dropwise, until the solution
becomes bluish-green. Add 2.0 mL of dichloroacetic acid solution R and 80 mL of acetone R. Titrate with
0.01 M lead nitrate until a persistent violet-red or orange-red colour is obtained. Carry out a blank
titration.
1 mL of 0.01 M lead nitrate is equivalent to 1.420 mg of Na2SO4.
ASSAY
Dissolve 1.15 g in water R, warming if necessary, and dilute to 1000.0 mL with the same solvent.
To 20.0 mL of the solution add 15 mL of chloroform R and 10 mL of dimidium bromide-sulfan blue mixed
solution R. Titrate with 0.004 M benzethonium chloride, shaking vigorously and allowing the layers to
separate before each addition, until the pink colour of the chloroform layer is completely discharged and
a greyish-blue colour is obtained.
1 mL of 0.004 M benzethonium chloride is equivalent to 1.154 mg of sodium alkyl sulfates,
expressed as C12H25NaO4S.
Ph Eur

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