Chemical Properties
Dodecyl Sulfate Sodium is the sodium salt of the 12-carbon organosulfate. Its hydrocarbon tail combined with a polar "headgroup" give the compound amphiphilic properties that make it useful as a detergent.
Physical properties
Soluble in water (150 g/L at 20° C), and ethanol (partly soluble).
Uses
Dodecyl Sulfate Sodium is an detergent typically used to solubilize and denature proteins for electrophoresis. Dodecyl Sulfate Sodium has also been used in large-scale phenol extraction of RNA to promote the dissociation of protein from nucleic acids when extracting from biological material. Dodecyl Sulfate Sodium is used in Protein Electrophoresis & Blotting.
Production Methods
Dodecyl alcohol is sulfated using sulfur trioxide. The reaction proceeds by initial formation of the pyrosulfate:
2 SO3 + ROH → ROSO2−O−SO3H
ROSO2−O−SO3H → ROSO3H + SO3
Several million tons are produced annually.
SDS can also be synthesized by treating lauryl alcohol with chlorosulfuric acid.The resulting half ester of sulfuric acid is then neutralized with alkali.
Health Hazard
Dodecyl Sulfate Sodium is not carcinogenic in low concentrations according to some studies.Like all detergents, Dodecyl Sulfate Sodium removes oils from the skin, and can cause skin and eye irritation.It has been shown to irritate the skin of the face, with prolonged and constant exposure (more than an hour) in young adults.Dodecyl Sulfate Sodium may worsen skin problems in individuals with chronic skin hypersensitivity, with some people being affected more than others.
