Surfactants: Production route
Anionic, non-ionic or amphoteric: how the head changes everything
What this tab covers How it is made: the main production routes or, for product families, the main product types and technologies, compared on share of supply, inputs per tonne, plant scale, yield, co-products and unit cost.Surfactants are grouped by the charge of the head group: anionic (negative), non-ionic (no charge), cationic (positive) and amphoteric (both). Each family can be made from oil or from plant oils, and many plants can switch feed. The big volume routes are LAS from LAB, alcohol ether sulphates (SLES) and alcohol ethoxylates from fatty or synthetic alcohols, and smaller but higher-value amphoterics, cationics and sugar-based surfactants. Biosurfactants made by fermentation are commercial but small.
Routes compared
| Route | Share of supply | Inputs per tonne | Typical scale | Yield | Co-products | Unit cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anionics from LAB (LAS) | roughly 30% of surfactant volume (indicative, basis: about 5.8 Mt LAS of about 18 Mt) | about 0.74 t LAB and 0.25 t SO3 per t LAS acid (stoichiometric, indicative) | sulphonation units of 20-100 kt/yr, often at detergent makers | about 97-98% (indicative) | small amounts of sulphuric acid | LAB about $1,257-1,704/t (Aug 2026 FOB China to India, lab tile) |
| Anionics from fatty alcohols (SLS, SLES/AES) | about 15-20% of volume (indicative) | about 0.55-0.65 t fatty alcohol, 0.15-0.3 t EO and 0.25 t SO3 per t active (indicative) | 20-100 kt/yr | high | trace 1,4-dioxane from ethoxylation, controlled by stripping | fatty alcohol $2,500-3,000/t is the main cost (Galaxy Q3 FY26) |
| Non-ionics (alcohol ethoxylates, alkylphenol ethoxylates, EO/PO copolymers) | about 30-35% of volume (indicative, basis: about 4 Mt EO to ethoxylates, ethylene_oxide tile) | about 0.4 t alcohol and 0.6 t EO per t of a C12 7EO ethoxylate (stoichiometric) | ethoxylators of 20-150 kt/yr, often next to EO plants | near 100% | polyethylene glycol traces | tracks EO and alcohol prices |
| Amphoterics, cationics and sugar-based surfactants (CAPB, esterquats, APG, MES) | about 10-15% of volume (indicative) | coconut or palm fatty acids or alcohols plus amines or glucose (indicative) | 5-50 kt/yr | high | glycerine and methanol in MES chains | higher than LAS; lauric oil prices |
| Biosurfactants (rhamnolipids, sophorolipids) | well under 1% (indicative) | sugar and vegetable oil by fermentation (indicative) | first commercial plants of a few kt/yr (Evonik rhamnolipids, Slovakia, indicative) | not published | fermentation biomass | several times LAS (indicative) |
How each route works
Anionics from LAB (LAS)LAB is sulphonated with SO3 in falling-film reactors to LABSA, then neutralised. Used in laundry powders, bars and dishwash. About 98% of LAB becomes LAS (lab tile).
cheapest strong cleaner; hard-water sensitive, harsher on skin, fossil carbon
lab tile; stoichiometry Anionics from fatty alcohols (SLS, SLES/AES)C12-C14 fatty alcohol (from palm kernel or coconut oil, or petro alcohols) is ethoxylated with 1-3 moles EO and sulphated with SO3, then neutralised to 28% or 70% paste. Main surfactant in shampoos, body wash and liquid detergents.
mild, high foam, works in liquids; palm sourcing and price volatility
Galaxy Surfactants Q3 FY26 call; indicative Non-ionics (alcohol ethoxylates, alkylphenol ethoxylates, EO/PO copolymers)Fatty or synthetic alcohols react with ethylene oxide (and propylene oxide) under base catalysis. Used in liquid detergents, I&I cleaning, textiles, agrochemicals and emulsion polymerisation. Nonylphenol ethoxylates are being phased out in many markets.
cold-water and hard-water performance; EO is toxic and explosive to handle, so plants sit near EO sources
ethylene_oxide tile; stoichiometry Amphoterics, cationics and sugar-based surfactants (CAPB, esterquats, APG, MES)Cocamidopropyl betaine from coconut fatty acids; esterquats for fabric softeners; alkyl polyglucosides from fatty alcohol and glucose; methyl ester sulphonates from palm methyl esters.
mild, often bio-based; higher cost
indicative Biosurfactants (rhamnolipids, sophorolipids)Microbes ferment sugars and plant oils into glycolipid surfactants, which are recovered and purified. Used in premium cleaning and personal care.
fully bio-based and mild; high cost and limited scale
indicative Unit economics are indicative ranges from the sources named; costs move with feedstock and energy prices, plant size and region.