In short: a liquid detergent or cleaner base is built from roles, not from a single surfactant. An anionic surfactant such as SLES or AOS does the main cleaning and foaming. An amphoteric co-surfactant such as cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), Godrej Ginamide B rounds out foam and mildness. Coco amides (CDEA, CMEA) stabilise foam and build viscosity. This guide explains what each one contributes and what to check on the specification before you order. The CAPB grade is for industrial and professional use per its SDS.
Why a surfactant system, not one surfactant
A single anionic surfactant can clean, but it is rarely the best answer on its own. Formulators combine surfactants of different charge types because the blend usually foams better, feels milder and thickens more predictably than any one ingredient (general knowledge). In a liquid base the usual cast is an anionic primary surfactant, an amphoteric co-surfactant, and one or more non-ionic amides. The roles below are textbook chemistry; the specification figures are taken from the manufacturer's data for the grades Supreme Petro Chemicals (SPC) supplies from Chennai.
SPC is an importer and bulk distributor, not a manufacturer, and does not make finished detergents. We supply the raw materials to liquid detergent and home-care manufacturers. This guide is about how those raw materials fit together, not a formulation recipe: ratios depend on your active levels, water hardness and target viscosity, and are for your own trials.
The five roles at a glance
| Material | Charge type | Role in a liquid base | SPC grade (per TDS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES | Anionic | Primary surfactant: cleaning, foam, base for salt thickening | LES 70, 2 mole, 68.0% mass min active matter |
| AOS | Anionic | Primary or secondary anionic: cleaning and foam, often alongside SLES | Liquid / paste, 38 to 40% mass active matter |
| CAPB | Amphoteric | Co-surfactant: foam boost, mildness, viscosity response to salt | Ginamide B, 29.0% min active betaine |
| CDEA | Non-ionic | Foam booster and stabiliser, viscosity aid | Liquid 1:1 type foam booster, 85% mass min total active matter |
| CMEA | Non-ionic | Foam stabiliser and thickener (flake) | Ginamide AI flake, amide 80.0% min |
Grades are from the SPC TDS for each product. Roles are general knowledge, apart from the home-care industry grouping of foam boosters and co-surfactants.
SLES: the primary anionic surfactant
Sodium lauryl ether sulphate does most of the heavy lifting in a liquid base. Per the TDS appearance it is a high viscous liquid or paste, supplied in drums. The grade SPC lists is LES 70, 2 mole, specified at 68.0% mass minimum active matter. The ethoxylation (mole) number matters: it changes foam and viscosity behaviour (general knowledge), so a 1-mole or 3-mole grade is not a drop-in swap for a 2-mole one even though the abbreviation is the same.
AOS: a second anionic option
Alpha olefin sulphonate is another anionic surfactant. The SPC grade is a liquid or paste at 38 to 40% mass active matter. Because its active level is far lower than SLES 70, compare any two anionics on active matter, not on weight of product. Some formulators use AOS alongside SLES or in place of part of it; whether that suits your base is a trial question, not something this page can decide for you.
CAPB: the amphoteric co-surfactant
Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAS 61789-40-0) is a zwitterionic (amphoteric) surfactant made from coconut fatty acids. In a liquid base it is added for three reasons that formulators commonly cite (general knowledge): it lifts and stabilises foam, it makes the blend feel milder than the anionic alone, and it makes the viscosity respond to added salt. These are not claims about a specific batch.
The SPC grade is Godrej Ginamide B, with these values from the manufacturer's Certificate of Analysis: active betaine 29.0% min, free amido amine 1.0% max, chloride as NaCl 6.0% max, pH 4.0 to 7.0 (10% aqueous). Three things to read from that line:
- Active betaine is the figure that counts. CAPB is sold as an aqueous solution, and two drums labelled "CAPB" can differ widely in active matter. Always compare on active betaine percentage.
- Salt counts. The specification limits chloride as NaCl to 6.0% max. It adds to the electrolyte in your batch, which matters when you thicken with salt.
- Free amido amine is limited at 1.0% max. Amido amine is an intermediate; as general knowledge, residual amido amine and the amine used to make it are the species linked to skin sensitisation concerns, which is why a low limit is good practice.
SPC supplies CAPB as a technical (industrial) grade. The SDS restricts it to industrial and professional use and notes it should not be used in consumer or medicinal applications unless separately qualified. It carries the classification Skin Irrit. 2 (H315) and Eye Dam. 1 (H318), signal word DANGER, so handle it with gloves and eye protection; see the safety and storage section of the CAPB page.
CDEA and CMEA: the coco amides
Coconut amides sit in the formulation to stabilise foam and add body. SPC lists two:
- CDEA (cocamide DEA): a liquid 1:1 type foam booster specified at 85% mass minimum total active matter, with free amine (DEA) limited at 8.0% max (per TDS). Being liquid, it is simple to dose.
- CMEA (cocamide MEA): the Ginamide AI grade is a flake with melting point 55.0 to 65.0 degrees C and amide 80.0% min (per TDS). As general knowledge, flake amides are melted into the batch and generally used where thickening is wanted.
As general knowledge, CAPB has replaced cocamide DEA in many formulations. That is a trend, not a rule: CDEA is still a widely used foam booster in industrial and home-care liquids, and the choice depends on the end product and market.
How they work together
| Goal in the base | Which materials usually address it (general knowledge) |
|---|---|
| Cleaning power and basic foam | SLES, AOS |
| Richer, more stable foam | CAPB, CDEA, CMEA |
| Milder feel on the hands | CAPB blended with the anionic |
| Viscosity build | Salt with SLES and CAPB; amides (CDEA, CMEA) |
One practical point (general knowledge): salt thickening is a curve, not a straight line. Past a peak, more salt thins the product again, and the salt already present in the raw materials counts. Run small trials and measure viscosity at your target temperature before scaling up.
What to check before you order
- Compare on active matter. SLES at 68.0% min, AOS at 38 to 40%, CAPB at 29.0% min and CDEA at 85% min are different bases, so compare on active matter, not on weight of product.
- Check the grade type. Mole number for SLES, the type of CDEA (SPC's is the 1:1 liquid foam booster), flake versus liquid for the amides.
- Ask for the documents. The TDS and SDS for each grade are on its product page (for CAPB, the MSDS, TDS and CoA section), and a batch Certificate of Analysis is supplied with every delivery. Compare the CoA against the producer's original.
- Confirm the grade suits your market. The CAPB grade is for industrial and professional use per its SDS; check the TDS and SDS of each other grade for its own use limits. If your product is a cosmetic, food-contact or pharma item, confirm the qualification you need before choosing.
- Confirm the packing. CAPB is supplied in 50 kg HMHDPE carboys; the pack for each of the others is on its product page.
Storage and handling notes
For CAPB, store in the original sealed containers away from heat and direct sunlight, at normal temperature and humidity, and protect it from freezing. Keep it away from strong oxidisers and concentrated acids. It is an aqueous solution and is not classified as flammable. Foaming can disturb sewers and wastewater plants, so avoid releasing it to drains in bulk. Follow the SDS for each grade.
Enquiring
If you are building a liquid detergent or cleaner base and want to source SLES, AOS, CAPB, CDEA or CMEA from one Chennai supplier, send the grade, quantity, pack and destination on WhatsApp at +91 86087 80096, or use the enquiry form on the cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) page, for a quote within 4 working hours. We can confirm which grade fits your requirement before you commit.
Sources: specification values are from the manufacturers' Certificates of Analysis as reproduced in SPC technical data sheets, and the CAPB safety data sheet. Surfactant roles, mole-number effects, the salt-thickening curve, flake amides and the CAPB versus cocamide DEA trend are general chemistry, not SPC specifications.