Skip to content
CarCareTruth

Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES)

  • Anionic surfactants
  • CAS 32612-48-9
  • IUPAC: Ammonium dodecyl poly(oxyethylene) sulfate

Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES) (CAS 32612-48-9) appears in 1 of the 2,122 car-care products CarCareTruth tracks (as of August 2026). It is readily biodegradable.

Classified Eye Dam. 1 (H318, serious eye damage) and Skin Irrit. 2 (H315, skin irritation) at typical use concentrations in mixtures. Ether sulfates are generally considered less irritating than their non-ethoxylated lauryl-sulfate counterparts, but the eye-damage classification is real at the concentrations used in high-active formulas.

Ammonium laureth sulfate is a workhorse anionic surfactant in high-foaming cleaning products, closely related to sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) but using an ammonium counterion instead of sodium. It generates rich, dense foam and is effective at emulsifying oils and road grime.

The ether-sulfate (ethoxylated) structure makes it milder on skin than straight alkyl sulfates, but concentrated solutions still classify as an eye-damage hazard and mild skin irritant. Readily biodegradable under standard wastewater treatment.

Health & environment profile

VOC
no
Prop 65 listed
no
Asthmagen
no
EPA Safer Choice
no
Aquatic toxicity
no
Biodegradable
yes
Bioaccumulative
no
Persistent
no
Ozone depleting
no
Microplastic
no
PFAS
no
Env. score
5/5
Purpose: Primary anionic surfactant for foam generation and soil emulsification; SDS printed name 'Ammonium C12-14 (even numbered) alkyl sulphates'

Common questions about Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES)

What is Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES) used for in car care?
Primary anionic surfactant for foam generation and soil emulsification; SDS printed name 'Ammonium C12-14 (even numbered) alkyl sulphates'
Is Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES) a VOC?
No. Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES) is not classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
Is Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES) on California's Proposition 65 list?
No. Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES) is not on California's Proposition 65 list.
Is Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES) biodegradable?
Yes. Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (ALES) has a confirmed biodegradable profile.

1 product contain this

Related

Health and environment notes translate the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, the GHS classification, and authoritative regulatory listings (California Prop 65, EPA). Not medical advice. They describe the ingredient itself; whether a hazard applies to a finished product depends on its concentration and how it's used.