SCS 40 vs SCS 90: Which Sodium Cumene Sulfonate Grade Should You Buy?
Sodium Cumene Sulfonate is supplied in two commercial grades — SCS 40% (a clear liquid) and SCS 90% (a free-flowing powder). Both are the same chemistry (CAS 28348-53-0); the choice comes down to your process, your formulation format and — for exporters — freight economics.
Quick answer: Choose SCS 40% liquid for cold-blended liquid detergents, dishwash and personal-care where you dose straight into a water phase. Choose SCS 90% powder for spray-dried/dry-blend powders, tablets and long-haul export, where paying to ship ~60% water in the liquid grade makes no sense. Same molecule, different delivery format.
Head-to-head comparison
| Attribute | SCS 40% (liquid) | SCS 90% (powder) |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Clear aqueous liquid | Free-flowing white/off-white powder |
| Active matter | 39–41% | ≥ 90% |
| Water content | ~58–62% | Low (typically < 5% moisture) |
| Best formats | Liquid detergents, dishwash, shampoos, APCs | Powder/tablet detergents, dry blends, concentrates |
| Freight cost / kg active | Baseline (you ship water) | ~60% lower — you ship active, not water |
| Dosing | Meter directly into water phase | Disperse/dissolve into batch or dry-blend |
| Storage | Keep > 10 °C to avoid crystallisation | Cool, dry warehouse; protect from moisture |
| Ideal buyer | Regional/domestic formulators | Exporters, powder plants, high-active concentrates |
When SCS 40% liquid is the right choice
SCS 40% is the default hydrotrope for liquid systems. Because it is already in solution, it blends instantly at room temperature and is easy to meter accurately on a dosing pump — ideal for continuous or semi-batch liquid detergent lines.
- Clear liquid laundry, dishwash and all-purpose cleaner concentrates
- Shampoos, body wash and liquid hand soap (viscosity control + clarity)
- Any plant already handling liquid raw materials with no drying step
- Regional supply where freight distance is short and water weight is not a cost driver
When SCS 90% powder wins
SCS 90% concentrates the active into a powder, so you stop paying to freight and store water. Over an export lane to the Gulf, Africa or South-East Asia the delivered cost per kg of active is dramatically lower, and the powder slots straight into dry-blend and spray-dried processes.
- Spray-dried and dry-blended powder detergents, dishwash powders, tablets and capsules
- High-active liquid concentrates where you want to add your own water on-site
- Long-haul export where freight per kg active is the deciding cost
- Syndet bars and other low-moisture formats
Related Pages & Products
Frequently Asked Questions
Are SCS 40 and SCS 90 the same chemical?+
Can I switch a formula from SCS 40 to SCS 90?+
Which grade is cheaper to import?+
Does Vasudev Chemo Pharma supply both grades?+
How is each grade packed?+
Get SCS 40% / 90% pricing and a free sample
Send your grade (40% liquid or 90% powder), quantity, packaging, destination port and incoterm. Vasudev Chemo Pharma — an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer in Gujarat, India — replies within 24 hours with price, lead time, COA/SDS and a free evaluation sample.