Reformulating Around the LAB Squeeze
- sarahjiang1
- Jul 14
- 8 min read
Updated: Jul 31
Written by: Sean Hodgkinson, Sales Director
Why Kemsurf OS38 (AOS) Is the Smart Alternative to Kemsurf SBE30 (LAS)
1. Executive Summary
Global linear alkylbenzene (LAB) supply—the precursor to the DDBSA used to make Kemsurf SBE30 (sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate, LAS)—is under severe pressure. Disruption to Middle East petrochemical output, particularly in Qatar, has constrained the n-paraffin/linear-olefin (alkylate/AEH) feedstocks needed for LAB, tightening DDBSA availability and driving sharp price increases across all markets. With LAB representing ~88% of the alkylbenzene market and ~90% of it feeding detergent surfactant production, there is little slack in the system.
Kemsurf OS38 (sodium C14-16 alpha olefin sulphonate, AOS; CAS 68439-57-6) is built on an entirely different feedstock chain—alpha-olefins from ethylene oligomerisation or Fischer-Tropsch routes—and therefore sidesteps the LAB bottleneck entirely. Critically, Kemsurf OS38 is not merely a fallback: across most application sectors it matches or outperforms Kemsurf SBE30 on foam stability, hard-water tolerance, mildness, and biodegradability.
2. Side-by-Side Product Specification
Property | Kemsurf OS38 (AOS) | |
Chemistry | Sodium dodecyl benzene sulphonate | Sodium C14-16 alpha olefin sulphonate |
CAS number | 68411-30-3 | 68439-57-6 |
INCI | Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate | Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate |
Active matter (SAM %) | 29.0-31.0 (~30% active) | 37.0-39.0 (~38% active) |
Equivalent weight | 337 | 320 |
Appearance | Clear viscous yellow liquid | Clear amber liquid |
pH (5% aq.) | 6.5-8.5 | 6.0-8.0 |
Viscosity @ 25°C | 3810 cP | 51.9 cP |
Specific gravity | 1.044 (25°C) | 1.07 (20°C) |
Pour point | <10°C | -3°C |
Flash point (CC) | >100°C | >150°C |
Surface tension (0.1% aq.) | 34.45 mN/m | 31.6 mN/m |
Feedstock | LAB (short supply) | Alpha-olefins (unaffected) |
Two practical takeaways for reformulators:
Lower surface tension (31.6 vs 34.45 mN/m) means Kemsurf OS38 wets more efficiently.
Much lower viscosity and pour point make Kemsurf OS38 easier to pump and dose, especially in cold conditions.
3. The Chemistry Difference (and Why It Matters)
Kemsurf SBE30 (LAS) is made by sulphonating LAB (a benzene ring bearing a C10-C13 linear alkyl chain) with SO3, then neutralising to the sodium salt. Kemsurf OS38 (AOS) is made by sulphonating C14-C16 alpha-olefins, producing a mixture of alkene sulphonates and hydroxyalkane sulphonates. That structural difference drives the key advantages of Kemsurf OS38:
No benzene ring → lower charge density at the head group → milder on skin/eyes.
Olefin/hydroxy backbone → better calcium tolerance and calcium-soap dispersion in hard water.
Different feedstock → supply-chain resilience against the LAB shortage.
4. Head-to-Head Performance Comparison
Performance factor | Winner | ||
Particulate soil removal | Excellent | Good | Kemsurf SBE30 (slight) |
Oily/greasy soil removal | Good | Very good | Kemsurf OS38 |
Foam volume | Moderate-high | High | Kemsurf OS38 |
Foam stability (in soil/grease) | Good | Very good | Kemsurf OS38 |
Hard-water tolerance | Poor without builder | Good-excellent | Kemsurf OS38 |
Calcium soap dispersion | Limited | Excellent | Kemsurf OS38 |
Skin/eye mildness | Moderate | Good-very good | Kemsurf OS38 |
Enzyme compatibility | Lower | Better | Kemsurf OS38 |
Cold-water solubility | Limited | Good | Kemsurf OS38 |
Biodegradability | Readily | Readily | Tie |
Raw cost (normally) | Lowest | Moderate | Kemsurf SBE30* |
*Cost advantage of Kemsurf SBE30 is eroding fast under the current DDBSA shortage.
Key finding on temperature: studies show little difference between Kemsurf OS38 and Kemsurf SBE30 in hot, prolonged washes (≥60°C, 1 hour), but Kemsurf OS38 outperforms Kemsurf SBE30 in cold/short washes (10-40°C, 10-29 min)—increasingly relevant given the industry shift to low-temperature, energy-saving cycles.
5. Application-Sector-by-Sector Comparison
5.1 Laundry Detergents (powder & liquid)
Kemsurf SBE30 has historically dominated laundry on cost. However, decontamination studies show AOS and LAS act synergistically, with optimum synergy in phosphorus-built powders at an LAS:AOS ratio of ~8:2; in phosphate-free powders, AOS contribution rises sharply once anionic active exceeds 20%. Kemsurf OS38 also deposits less ash/grey scum on fabric than LAS-only systems and resists yellowing. Recommendation: partial substitution (blend) first, moving to higher Kemsurf OS38 share in hard-water export markets.
5.2 Emulsion Polymers / Latex Manufacture
Emulsion polymerisation is a strong additional application area for Kemsurf OS38 because alpha olefin sulphonates are already recognised as anionic emulsifiers for polymer latex systems. In this sector, the surfactant is not present primarily for foam or cleaning; it is used to emulsify hydrophobic monomers in water, form and stabilise micelles, control particle nucleation, and maintain latex stability during polymerisation, storage and downstream formulation.
Kemsurf OS38 is particularly relevant where producers are making waterborne acrylic, styrene-acrylic, vinyl-acrylic, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride or other latex polymers for coatings, adhesives, sealants, construction products and textile binders.
The key technical benefit is process robustness. Kemsurf OS38 gives a high-active, easy-to-handle anionic emulsifier with good compatibility across anionic, nonionic and amphoteric surfactant packages. Its low viscosity compared with Kemsurf SBE30 also makes it easier to meter accurately into pre-emulsions and reactor feeds. In polymerisation, surfactant selection affects particle size, particle-size distribution, coagulum formation, viscosity build, electrolyte stability, mechanical stability and the performance of the final latex film. Kemsurf OS38 should therefore be positioned as a practical primary or co-emulsifier where the customer wants stable particle formation, good wetting of monomer droplets and a supply-secure alternative to LAS-based surfactants.
5.3 Hand Dishwashing Liquids
Foam density and stability are the primary consumer cues here. Kemsurf OS38 delivers high, stable foam with strong grease cutting, holding up better than Kemsurf SBE30 in hard water where calcium-LAS precipitates and foam collapses. The strong foaming and degreasing of Kemsurf OS38 make it directly suited to liquid dishwashing.
5.4 Personal Care (shampoos, body wash, hand soap)
This is where the switch is most compelling. Kemsurf SBE30 is rarely used as a sole surfactant in facial/baby products due to harshness, whereas Kemsurf OS38 is increasingly specified in baby shampoos, syndet bars and sulfate-free-adjacent formulations. Kemsurf OS38 provides effective cleaning without stripping natural oils and, when combined with betaines (Amphokem CAB) or amine oxides (Lansurf CAO), can match the performance of alkyl sulfates. CIR considers AOS safe for rinse-off products (and up to 2% in leave-on), subject to sultone impurity limits.
5.5 Industrial & Institutional (I&I) Cleaning
Kemsurf OS38 offers strong degreasing and wetting at typical dose rates of 2-5% depending on soil load. Its lower surface tension (31.6 mN/m) supports better wetting on hard surfaces. Kemsurf OS38 is recommended for industrial cleaning and textile auxiliaries requiring strong detergency/wetting.
5.6 Firefighting Foams
The strong, stable foaming characteristics of Kemsurf OS38 make it directly suitable for foam-generation systems—an application where Kemsurf SBE30 is generally not used.
5.7 Textiles, Ore Flotation
Kemsurf SBE30 currently serves textile scouring, dye dispersing and ore flotation. Kemsurf OS38 covers textile auxiliaries and emulsion polymerisation directly; for ore flotation and dye dispersion, application trials are advisable as these lean on the particulate-dispersion strength of Kemsurf SBE30.
5.8 Soaps / Bar Products
Kemsurf OS38 added to soap increases solubility in hard water, boosts low-temperature foam and wettability, improves flexibility and reduces cracking—directly solving soap's classic hard-water scum problem.
6. Formulation Guides & Conversion
6.1 Active-matter conversion (Kemsurf SBE30 → Kemsurf OS38)
Kemsurf SBE30 is ~30% active; Kemsurf OS38 is ~38% active. To match active surfactant, use roughly 0.79 kg Kemsurf OS38 per 1 kg Kemsurf SBE30 (30 / 38 = 0.79), then adjust water to balance. Always re-check viscosity and foam in target water hardness after substitution.
6.2 General dose guidance (on ~38-40% AOS basis)
Application | Typical dose |
Household detergents / dish liquids | 5-10% |
Personal care (shampoo, body wash) | 5-8% |
Industrial cleaning | 2-5% |
General primary/co-surfactant | 4-30% |
6.3 Worked example – Laundry liquid (Kemsurf SBE30 to Kemsurf OS38 transition blend)
10% Kemsurf SBE30 (or reduce further) + 5% Kemsurf OS38 for hard-water tolerance and foam stability
6% Lansurf AE247 (nonionic primary detergency)
2% sodium citrate (chelator), 0.8% anti-redeposition polymer
Brighteners/enzymes/fragrance q.s.; buffer to pH 8.0-8.5
Tip: increase citrate to 2.5% above 400 ppm CaCO3; increase Kemsurf OS38 / reduce Kemsurf SBE30 if scum appears on dark fabrics.
6.4 Worked example – Foaming hand wash (Kemsurf OS38-forward, mild)
EDTA disodium (chelator) + water phase
Glycerin (humectant)
SLES 70% + CAB 35% (betaine) + Kemsurf OS38 as the surfactant system
Citric acid to pH; MIT/CMIT preservative; fragrance
6.5 Co-surfactant synergy rules
Kemsurf OS38 is compatible with anionic, nonionic (FAE) and amphoteric (betaine) co-surfactants.
Manage viscosity via NaCl salt curve or amine oxide/alkanolamide, adding salt incrementally to avoid over-thinning.
7. Regulatory & Sustainability Position
Both Kemsurf SBE30 (LAS) and Kemsurf OS38 (AOS) are readily biodegradable under OECD 301 methods. Kemsurf OS38 additionally offers a favourable environmental profile—low persistence, low bioaccumulation, low aquatic toxicity—and is increasingly favoured in phosphate-free and sulfate-free-positioned products. This supports a greener + supply-secure marketing narrative for the switch.
8. Detailed Kemsurf OS38 Starting Formulations
The following starting formulations use Kemsurf OS38 as the primary (or sole) surfactant, adapted from published external technical guides for alpha olefin sulfonate (AOS). Kemsurf OS38 is supplied at approximately 38% active matter, so it can be dosed directly in place of generic liquid AOS (35-40% active). All percentages are % w/w and are starting points only—validate foam, viscosity and stability in your target water hardness. Preservative, fragrance and colour are added q.s. (quantum satis) and water makes up the balance to 100%.
8.1 Sulfate-Free Shampoo (Kemsurf OS38 primary)
Ingredient | % w/w | Function |
Kemsurf OS38 (as supplied) | 30.0 | Primary anionic surfactant / foam |
8.0 | Secondary surfactant, mildness, foam | |
Coco glucoside | 4.0 | Mild nonionic co-surfactant |
Glycerin | 2.0 | Humectant / conditioning |
Polyquaternium-7 | 1.0 | Conditioning / wet-comb |
Sodium chloride | 1.0-3.0 | Viscosity adjustment (salt curve) |
Citric acid | q.s. | pH to 5.5-6.5 |
Preservative / fragrance | q.s. | Stability / aesthetics |
Deionised water | to 100 | Solvent |
Kemsurf OS38 delivers rich lather without sulfates; add salt incrementally to build viscosity and avoid over-thinning.
8.2 Mild Body Wash / Shower Gel
Ingredient | % w/w | Function |
Kemsurf OS38 (as supplied) | 28.0 | Primary surfactant / foam |
6.0 | Foam boost, mildness | |
Decyl glucoside | 3.0 | Mild nonionic co-surfactant |
Glycerin | 3.0 | Humectant |
PEG-150 distearate (or cocamide) | 1.0-2.0 | Thickener / creamy feel |
Sodium chloride | 1.0-2.5 | Viscosity control |
Citric acid | q.s. | pH to 5.5-6.0 |
Preservative / fragrance / colour | q.s. | Stability / aesthetics |
Deionised water | to 100 | Solvent |
8.3 Foaming Hand Wash (dilute, for foamer pump)
Ingredient | % w/w | Function |
Kemsurf OS38 (as supplied) | 10.0 | Primary foaming surfactant |
3.0 | Foam density / mildness | |
Glycerin | 2.0 | Skin feel / humectant |
EDTA disodium | 0.2 | Chelator (hard-water control) |
Citric acid | q.s. | pH to 5.5 |
Preservative (MIT/CMIT) / fragrance | q.s. | Preservation / scent |
Deionised water | to 100 | Solvent |
Low total active is intentional—the foamer pump aerates the thin liquid into a rich foam. Dispense into a foaming pump bottle.
8.4 Hand Dishwashing Liquid (Kemsurf OS38 primary)
Ingredient | % w/w | Function |
Kemsurf OS38 (as supplied) | 25.0 | Primary anionic surfactant / foam |
4.0 | Foam stabiliser, mildness | |
2.0 | Grease-cutting foam booster | |
Sodium chloride | 1.0-3.0 | Viscosity (salt curve) |
Sodium citrate / tetrasodium EDTA | 0.5 | Hard-water chelation |
Citric acid | q.s. | pH to 6.0-7.0 |
Preservative / fragrance / dye | q.s. | Stability / aesthetics |
Deionised water | to 100 | Solvent |
The hard-water tolerance of Kemsurf OS38 keeps foam and grease-cutting stable in high-hardness regions where LAS-based liquids fade.
8.5 Active Foam Concentrate / Snow Foam (car wash)
Ingredient | % w/w | Function |
Kemsurf OS38 (as supplied) | 20.0 | High-foam wetting agent / cleaner |
6.0 | Foam density, cling, mildness on paint | |
3.0 | Foam stabiliser / thickener / cling time | |
3.0 | Grease/road-film emulsification | |
Tetrasodium EDTA | 0.5 | Hard-water control |
Sodium chloride | q.s. | Viscosity (salt curve) |
Preservative / fragrance / dye | q.s. | Stability / aesthetics |
Deionised water | to 100 | Solvent |
Kemsurf OS38 provides the copious, clinging foam that lubricates and lifts grit safely from paintwork. Neutralise any LABSA separately if a blend is used.
8.6 Heavy-Duty Industrial / All-Purpose Cleaner
Ingredient | % w/w | Function |
Kemsurf OS38 (as supplied) | 8.0 | Primary surfactant / wetting / degreasing |
4.0 | Grease release / low-foam option | |
Sodium metasilicate (or carbonate) | 2.0 | Alkalinity builder |
GLDA or tetrasodium EDTA | 1.0 | Chelation / hard-water control |
Sodium hydroxide | q.s. | pH to 10-12 (as required) |
Preservative / fragrance | q.s. | Stability |
Deionised water | to 100 | Solvent |
Dilute 1:20 to 1:100 at point of use. The low surface tension of Kemsurf OS38 (31.6 mN/m) aids rapid wetting of hard surfaces.
General manufacturing notes:
Add Kemsurf OS38 to the water phase under gentle stirring to avoid excessive aeration.
Adjust pH last, then build viscosity with sodium chloride incrementally (monitor the salt curve—over-salting thins the product).
Where a betaine or amine oxide is present, viscosity response to salt is enhanced.
Confirm preservative compatibility and validate against local water hardness before scale-up.
9. Conclusion & Recommendation
With LAB/DDBSA supply constrained and pricing volatile, Kemsurf OS38 offers a technically superior, supply-resilient route for the large majority of Kemsurf SBE30 applications—especially in hard water, cold-wash, foam-critical, and mildness-sensitive formulations. For particulate-heavy or cost-critical laundry systems, a staged Kemsurf SBE30 to Kemsurf OS38 blend captures synergy while easing the transition. In short: Kemsurf OS38 isn't just a substitute for Kemsurf SBE30—in most sectors it's an upgrade.
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