Ammonium lauryl sulfate: Applications and Toxic Mechanism

General Description

Ammonium lauryl sulfate is a versatile compound with applications ranging from enhancing Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells performance to the preparation of latex polystyrene, due to its effective emulsifying properties. In Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells, Ammonium lauryl sulfate incorporation into gas diffusion layers significantly improves fuel cell efficiency, particularly under high humidity conditions, by optimizing gas diffusion and electrochemical performance. Similarly, in creating latex polystyrene, Ammonium lauryl sulfate stabilizes the emulsion, ensuring uniform particle distribution crucial for the material's properties. However, Ammonium lauryl sulfate has been associated with toxic effects, including apoptotic cell death through mitochondrial dysfunction, indicating potential health risks upon chronic exposure. This dual nature underscores the importance of careful management of Ammonium lauryl sulfate applications to harness its benefits while minimizing adverse effects.

Figure 1. Ammonium lauryl sulfate

Applications

Fuel Cells

Ammonium lauryl sulfate plays a pivotal role in enhancing the performance of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) through its incorporation into the gas diffusion layers (GDLs). The innovative approach involves fabricating the microporous layer of GDLs using a carbon slurry dispersed in water with Ammonium lauryl sulfate, applying the wire rod coating method. This technique significantly impacts PEMFC performance by optimizing gas diffusion characteristics, particularly under high relative humidity conditions. A comparative study highlighted that GDLs fabricated with Ammonium lauryl sulfate exhibited superior peak power densities of 1300 mW.cm−2 using hydrogen/oxygen and 500 mW.cm−2 using hydrogen/air at 100% relative humidity, outperforming those made with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The findings underscore the effectiveness of Ammonium lauryl sulfate in achieving optimal gas diffusion and electrochemical performance, making it a crucial component in the development of efficient fuel cell technologies. This advancement underscores the potential of Ammonium lauryl sulfate to enhance fuel cell efficiency, particularly in demanding environmental conditions. ¹

Preparation of Latex Polystyrene

Ammonium lauryl sulfate plays a significant role in the preparation of latex polystyrene, which is a process involving the dissolution of foam polystyrene in toluene to create a polystyrene solution. This solution is then mixed with distilled water (aquadest) in various volume ratios, and an emulsifier, specifically sodium lauryl sulfate (NLS) in this context, is added to stabilize the emulsion. Although the given text mistakenly references NLS when highlighting the use of an emulsifier, the focus on Ammonium lauryl sulfate suggests its potential application as a comparable or alternative surfactant due to its similar chemical properties and effectiveness in stabilizing emulsions. In the process of creating latex polystyrene, the stability of the emulsion is crucial for achieving desired material characteristics. The stability is assessed through measurements such as density and microscopic observation of particle sizes and shapes. A stable emulsion ensures uniform particle distribution and size, which are essential for the material's final properties. The mention of specific ratios and the stability of the emulsion at a 90:10 polystyrene to aquadest ratio, with a consistent density value, indicates the importance of precise formulation and the role of Ammonium lauryl sulfate-like emulsifiers in achieving a stable and usable latex polystyrene product. ²

Toxic Mechanism

Ammonium lauryl sulfate, a prevalent detergent in consumer products, has been linked to apoptotic cell death through a mechanism involving mitochondrial dysfunction, as revealed in studies using alveolar macrophage cells. The toxic effects of Ammonium lauryl sulfate were observed when cell viability significantly decreased within the 40 to 200 μg/mL concentration range. Further investigations at lower concentrations (10, 20, and 50 μg/mL) demonstrated that exposure to 50 μg/mL Ammonium lauryl sulfate for 24 hours reduced cell viability to approximately 67.7% compared to the control group. This reduction in cell viability was accompanied by the formation of autophagosome-like vacuoles and damaged mitochondria encased in double membranes within the cytosol. Key indicators of cellular distress, such as increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), decreased ATP levels, reduced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) volume, diminished mitochondrial potential, and elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release alongside apoptotic bodies, were noted. The study also highlighted the suppression of caveolin-1 expression, a critical factor in Ammonium lauryl sulfate-induced apoptosis, and observed alterations in several cell death pathways. Additionally, Ammonium lauryl sulfate exposure led to decreased secretion of inflammatory mediators and immune response-related proteins, while increasing TGF-β secretion, suggesting potential long-term health risks including cancer and fibrosis due to impaired pulmonary immune function. ³

Reference

1. Villacorta R. Development and Characterization of Gas Diffusion Layer Fabricated Using Carbon Slurry with Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate for Proton Exchange Member Fuel Cells. Journal of The Chinese Chemical Society. 2012; 59(10): 1357-1364.

2. Osman H. The Effect of Variation of Latex Mixed Storage Time Polystyrene and Natural Rubber Concentrate Latex on the Stability of the Emulsion by Using Emulsifier Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Journal of Chemical Natural Resources. 2022; 19: 1.

3. Park EJ, Seong E, Kim Y, Lee K. Ammonium lauryl sulfate-induced apoptotic cell death may be due to mitochondrial dysfunction triggered by caveolin-1. Toxicol In Vitro. 2019; 57: 132-142.

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