What is Sodium Methyl Ester Sulfonate MES CAS 93348-22-2?

Sodium Methyl Ester Sulfonate MES CAS 93348-22-2 is an anionic surfactant produced by sulfonating fatty acid methyl esters, commonly from palm or other plant-derived oils. It is supplied mainly as light yellow to white flakes or powder and is used for high-performance laundry, dishwashing, and industrial cleaning formulations.

How does MES CAS 93348-22-2 compare with LAS or LABSA?

MES is a bio-based surfactant, while LAS and LABSA are petroleum-based. It generally has better tolerance to calcium and magnesium in hard water, lower skin irritation, good biodegradability, and can often replace part of the LAS while improving cleaning performance or reducing builder demand.

Is Sodium Methyl Ester Sulfonate only suitable for powder detergents?

No, it is widely used in powders because it is easy to handle as free-flowing flakes, but it can also be formulated into liquid detergents and dishwashing products. For liquid systems, formulators usually need to control dissolution, viscosity, and the amount of di-salt or free oil.

What does the typical MES 80% C16-18 specification include?

The common industrial grade specifies active matter of at least 80%, di-salt usually not more than 10%, free oil not more than 2.5%, water not more than 5%, and pH of a 1% solution around 4.5-7.0. Appearance is normally light yellow to white flakes or powder.

How should Sodium Methyl Ester Sulfonate be stored to maintain quality?

It is hygroscopic and can hydrolyze if exposed to both heat and moisture, so it should be stored in tightly sealed bags in a cool, dry, well-ventilated warehouse. Keeping the material below about 45 C and avoiding excessive pallet stacking helps prevent caking and quality loss.

Sodium Methyl Ester Sulfonate MES CAS 93348-22-2

Sodium Methyl Ester Sulfonate (CAS 93348-22-2), commercially abbreviated as MES, is a high-performance anionic surfactant utilizing renewable vegetable oils (palm or coconut) as its raw material base. Chemically identified as the sodium salt of sulfonated fatty acid methyl esters, this off-white powder or flake functions as an eco-friendly detergent active with superior detergency and calcium tolerance compared to petroleum-based surfactants like LABSA. As a highly biodegradable Alpha-sulfo methyl ester, it is extensively integrated into concentrated laundry powders, liquid detergents, and dishwashing pastes due to its excellent solubility in cold water and ability to resist hard water precipitation. We ensure bulk supply capabilities for this material, providing access to competitive factory pricing and customized specifications to meet specific active matter contents (e.g., 80% Powder/Flakes, 30% Paste). Full technical documentation, including MSDS, TDS, COA, is available to support compliance and safety protocols.

CAS: 93348-22-2
Synonyms: MES, Fatty acid methyl ester sulfonate sodium salt, Sodium alpha-sulfo fatty acid methyl ester, Methyl ester sulphonate, Sodium C12-18 alkyl methyl ester sulfonate
Einecs: 297-163-5
Grade: Detergent Grade / Industrial Grade
Package: 25kg/Woven Bag with inner PE liner.

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Product Description

Sodium Methyl Ester Sulfonate (MES) is produced by the sulfonation of fatty acid methyl esters. It represents the new generation of surfactants.

Key Advantages:

High Detergency: In hard water conditions, the detergency of MES is significantly better than LAS (Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate) and AOS. It maintains performance even with high calcium/magnesium ion concentration.
Solubility: Good solubility in water, making it easy to formulate.
Mildness: Less irritating to human skin compared to LAS, making it suitable for hand-washing products.
Eco-Friendly: Made from renewable plant sources, carbon-neutral footprint, and readily biodegradable.
Cost-Effective: Often used to replace a portion of LAS in formulas to reduce cost while boosting cleaning power.

1 Physicochemical Properties

2 Applications

3 Storage Conditions

4 Safety Precautions

Physicochemical Properties

The specifications below refer to the standard MES 80% (C16-18) Flakes commonly exported by Chinese factories.

Parameter	Specification (Standard)
Appearance	Light yellow to white flakes or powder
Active Matter (MES)	≥ 80.0%
Di-Salt (Disodium Carboxy Sulfonate)	≤ 10.0% (Common byproduct)
Free Oil	≤ 2.5%
pH Value (1% Solution, 25°C)	4.5 – 7.0
Color (Klett, 5% Am. Aq. Sol.)	≤ 100
Water Content	≤ 5.0%
Zeolite/Inorganic Salt	Balance (as anti-caking)
Whiteness	≥ 70

Applications

Laundry Detergent Powders:
- Used as the primary active ingredient or mixed with LAS. It reduces the need for STPP or zeolites due to its high calcium tolerance. Ideal for concentrated powders.
Liquid Detergents:
- Used in laundry liquids and dishwashing liquids (requires proper solubilization techniques).
Soap Bars:
- Added to soap noodles to improve lathering capacity and resistance to hard water scum (lime soap).
Industrial Cleaning:
- Used in textile scouring agents and hard surface cleaners due to its strong emulsification and wetting properties.

For other anionic surfactant raw materials used in detergent systems, see Sodium Alpha-Olefin Sulfonate and LABSA 96%.

Storage Conditions

Temperature: Store in a cool place (below 45°C). MES can hydrolyze (break down) if exposed to high temperatures and moisture simultaneously.
Moisture: Highly hygroscopic. Keep bags tightly sealed. Store in a dry, well-ventilated warehouse.
Stacking: Avoid stacking pallets too high to prevent caking of the flakes at the bottom.
Shelf Life: 12 months in original unopened packaging under proper storage.

Safety Precautions

Dust Hazard: The powder/flakes can generate dust. Wear a dust mask (N95) to avoid respiratory irritation.
Eye Contact: Causes serious eye irritation (similar to soap). Wear safety goggles. If contact occurs, rinse thoroughly with water.
Skin Contact: Generally mild, but prolonged exposure to concentrated raw material may cause drying. Wear gloves.
Environmental: Readily biodegradable; however, do not dump large quantities of raw material into water sources.

FAQ - Technical & Supply Chain

Q:
What is Sodium Methyl Ester Sulfonate MES CAS 93348-22-2?

A: Sodium Methyl Ester Sulfonate MES CAS 93348-22-2 is an anionic surfactant produced by sulfonating fatty acid methyl esters, commonly from palm or other plant-derived oils. It is supplied mainly as light yellow to white flakes or powder and is used for high-performance laundry, dishwashing, and industrial cleaning formulations.
Q:
How does MES CAS 93348-22-2 compare with LAS or LABSA?

A: MES is a bio-based surfactant, while LAS and LABSA are petroleum-based. It generally has better tolerance to calcium and magnesium in hard water, lower skin irritation, good biodegradability, and can often replace part of the LAS while improving cleaning performance or reducing builder demand.
Q:
Is Sodium Methyl Ester Sulfonate only suitable for powder detergents?

A: No, it is widely used in powders because it is easy to handle as free-flowing flakes, but it can also be formulated into liquid detergents and dishwashing products. For liquid systems, formulators usually need to control dissolution, viscosity, and the amount of di-salt or free oil.
Q:
What does the typical MES 80% C16-18 specification include?

A: The common industrial grade specifies active matter of at least 80%, di-salt usually not more than 10%, free oil not more than 2.5%, water not more than 5%, and pH of a 1% solution around 4.5-7.0. Appearance is normally light yellow to white flakes or powder.
Q:
How should Sodium Methyl Ester Sulfonate be stored to maintain quality?

A: It is hygroscopic and can hydrolyze if exposed to both heat and moisture, so it should be stored in tightly sealed bags in a cool, dry, well-ventilated warehouse. Keeping the material below about 45 C and avoiding excessive pallet stacking helps prevent caking and quality loss.

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