This proposal summarizes a project to establish a pilot plant in Uganda to produce sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), a raw material used in 30% of detergent and cosmetic products. The project aims to reduce production costs for local industries by manufacturing SLES domestically rather than importing it. If funded, the plant would employ over 500 people and generate tax revenue. The proposal provides details on the chemistry and production process for SLES, expected product specifications, safety considerations, benefits to stakeholders, cost analysis, and monitoring plan.

1. WALAKIRA BRUNO
INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY.
MANDELA ENTERPRISES LTD
QUALITY l VALUE. pg. 0
PROJECT:
PRODUCTION OF SODIUM LAURYL ETHER SULFATE (SLES) IN UGANDA.
Submitted to: TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
Under: THE PRIVATE INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION PROGRAM.
Date: AUGUST, 2021 - to date
Author: Eng: WALAKIRA BRUNO
BSc. INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY.
Kampala District
+256 770833485
walakirabruno70@gmail.com
(RESEAECHER)
Report Category: Research project proposal. (CONCEPT PAPER)

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RE: SODIUM LAURYL ETHER SALFATE PRODUCTION PILOT PLANT IN UGANDA.
Dear Sir / Madam.
Am pleased to present this proposal for your review. We look forward to partnering with you
to provide a technological innovation, research has been made in the country that there is a great
need of the raw materials for detergent and cosmetic industries. Among the raw materials we
pointed out SLES as a potential raw material to be manufactured in the country. SLES as a raw
material has become one of the best and most needed raw material in the cosmetic and
detergent industry, where by in the formulation almost 30% in the detergent based products.
From research, SLES is being manufactured from industrially grown up countries such as
Malaysia, India, far away from the East African countries. Hence a project of establishing a SLES
manufacturing pilot plant would be the best project in East Africa.
So on this accord, i would like to ask for your financial help and technological advancement to
bring this project to existence. Continuation (next pages) are the detailed research proposal,
summarized expected findings, research process and justification of the work.
Thank you so much.
Best regards. WALAKIRA BRUNO
Researcher.
.

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1. ABSTRACT
The project is created to provide innovations that will improve on the production of detergents,
body care and hair care products. This project will be valid in the country as one of the raw
materials in the cosmetic and detergent industries will be manufactured in the country, this will
reduce on the production costs of such products as the cost of SLES will be reduced greatly.
Cutting off importation taxes for the importation of the material (SLES) since the material (in this
case product) will be manufactured in the country. At large the country has been importing it
from already far industrialized countries such as china, India,etc. depending on the assay needed.
Time of delivering the material and charged incurred have been the constraint to the retailers
and production industries at large, hence optioning for the home made good quality material.
SLES is a one type of detergent, an effective foaming agent. It is commonly used in cosmetic
products for cleaning and emulsifying properties. Used in hand wash, liquid soap, shampoo, dish
wash liquid soap, face wash etc. Hence availability of market in the country.
2. STATEMENT OF NEED.
From a little research, it shows that in Uganda over 8 companies for detergent and cosmetics
arise almost every year, meaning a great need for the raw materials mostly surfactants for the
production of the products. For most of the raw materials are just imported from the already
industrialized countries, where SLES is one of the major raw material needed. Calling for a high
demand of the material. So based on this reason and the objectives as stated below,
3. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
There is a big hope that, establishing a SLES manufacturing plant, will provide a ready market for
the product, creation of employment opportunities to the massive saving our people from
absolute poverty. Tax to the government as the company will be alleged to pay the tax.
Primary and secondary aims for this project are stated below.
Main objectives include:
1. Becoming a main / major supplier of SLES in the country, East African countries and Africa
at large.
Secondary objectives
I. Providing employment opportunities in the country, in a long run, the company will
employ over 500 workers hence kicking out poverty in the country.
II. The government will be earning tax from the company and product manufactured.
Beneficial to the country still.

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4. PROJECT DESCRIPTION (Chemistry of the project)
SLES is an organic chemical compound with excellent cleansing and foaming properties. For
this reason it is an ingredient of various detergents, household products, soaps and shampoos.
SLES is usually supplied to the producers of above liquids at a concentration of 70%. Due to its
physical properties, this concentrated solution is difficult to handle and must be diluted below
27% before using it in the process. In this research project, the researchers have put emphasis
on how SLES can be manufactured here in Uganda, different mechanisms for the production have
been optioned out and a better one which sorts in the country, less need of machinery, less
pollution, cost efficient, availability of raw materials and other factors considered will be taken
to be used.
Suggested production methods are as below:
4.1 Method 1. By ethoxylation of alcohol.
SLES is prepared by ethoxylation of dodecyl alcohol, which is produced industrially
from palm kernel oil or coconut oil. The resulting ethoxylate is converted to a half ester of
sulfuric acid, which is neutralized by conversion to the sodium salt by use of sodium
hydroxide.
But what is ethoxylation of dodecyl alcohol?
Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction in which ethylene oxide adds to a substrate. It is the most
widely practiced alkoxylation, which involves the addition of epoxides to substrates.
Industrial ethoxylation is primarily performed upon fatty alcohols in order to generate fatty
alcohol ethoxylates (FAE's), which are a common form of nonionic surfactant (e.g. octaethylene
glycol monododecyl ether). Such alcohols may be obtained by the hydrogenation of fatty
acids from seed oils,or by hydroformylation in the Shell higher olefin process. The reaction
proceeds by blowing ethylene oxide through the alcohol at 180 °C and under 1-2 bar of
pressure, with potassium hydroxide (KOH) serving as a catalyst. The process is highly
exothermic (ΔH -92 kJ/mol of ethylene oxide reacted) and requires careful control to avoid a
potentially disastrous thermal runaway.
ROH + n C2H4O → R(OC2H4)nOH

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a) Ethoxysulfates.
Ethoxylated fatty alcohols are often converted to the corresponding organosulfates, which can
be easily deprotonated to give anionic surfactants such as sodium laureth sulfate. Being salts,
ethoxysulfates exhibit good water solubility (high HLB value). The conversion is achieved by
treating ethoxylated alcohols with sulfur trioxide. Laboratory scale synthesis may be performed
using chlorosulfuric acid:
R(OC2H4)nOH + SO3 → R(OC2H4)nOSO3H
R(OC2H4)nOH + HSO3Cl → R(OC2H4)nOSO3H + HCl
The resulting sulfate esters are neutralized to give the salt:
R(OC2H4)nOSO3H + NaOH → R(OC2H4)nOSO3Na + H2O
Small volumes are neutralized with alkanolamines such as triethanolamine (TEA)
b) Production of ethoxylates.
Industrial production of ethoxylates is realized by a direct reaction of higher alcohols, acids or
amines with ethylene oxide in the presence of an alkaline catalyst at a temperature of 120–
180 °C (250–360 °F). Modern plants producing ethoxylates are usually based on the BUSS LOOP
reactors technology, which is based on a three-stage continuous process. In the first stage, the
initiator or catalyst of the reaction and the feedstock are fed into the container, where they are
mixed, heated and vacuum dried. Then reaction is carried out in a special insulated reactor in
an inert atmosphere (nitrogen) to prevent a possible explosion of ethylene oxide. Finally, the
reaction mixture is neutralized, degassed and purified.

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4.2 Method 2. SLES from SLS.
Additionally, how do you dissolve SLS powder in water? Dissolve 10 gram of sodium
lauryl sulfate (Merck 99%) in 2.0 liter of the degassed water preheated at about 40 °C.
Dilute to 4.0 liter with degassed water. Mix carefully in order to prevent the formation of
foam. Add sodium sulphate to the mixing drum, industrial salt and paraben as a
preservative, all is added as one is stirring.
Formulated reciepe under test.
No R.M quantity
1 Distilled warm water (degassed) 2 liters
2 SLS 10 g
3 Sodium sulphate 8 g
4 Sodium chloride 500 g
5 Paraben (preservative) 5 g
Note: The manufactured SLES as by the formulation can be thickened by adding industrial salt
to it. A buffer solution or ph adjuster is added. To obtain the desired ph of the product.
4.3. Thickening SLES Detergent with Salt.
1. Pour 940g of SLES detergent formulation into a bowl or beaker.
2. Dissolve 10g citric acid in about 50g water and add a little at a time while checking with
the pH meter (stir gently each time) until the pH is adjusted to neutral.
At the end of the manufacturing process, a sample product is taken in the laboratory for
analysis, quality control parameters such as appearance, ph, active matter, assay and others,
are determined to check whether the processed product passes the tests; is of standard.

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5. EXPECTED PRODUCT DESCRIPTION.
a) GENERAL.
 Model NO. SLES 70 for soap
 Appearance Viscous – flowable liquid, slightly yellow.
 Grade Standard Industrial Grade
 Active Matter, % 68-72
 Package 170kgs Drum
 Usage Dishwashing, Detergent, Shampoo, Bubble Bath Washing
 Market Uganda, east African countries, Africa.
 pH Value 7.0-9.5
 Other Name AES, SLES, TIBRO
 Packing 170/220 Kgs or 1000kgs IBC
 Sodium Sulphate 1.5% Max
 Unsulphated Matter 2.5% Max
 Lead Time Within 7 Days
 Storage Dry Cool Place
 Shelf Life 2 Years
 Certificate ISO, US - EAS
 Sample Free of Charge
 Trademark MANDELA ENTERPRISES.
 Transport Package 170kg Drum/1000kg IBC Drum
 Specification SLES 70% - Purity
 Origin Uganda.
b) EXPECTED LAB ANALYSIS.
Data Sheet
Items Specifications Results
Appearance at 25C Slightly yellow Pour able gel
Active Matter 70% min
Unsulphated matter 2.5% max
Sodium Sulphate 1.5% max
pH - value (1%aq.sol.) 7.0-9.5
Color (5% Am.aq.sol) Klett 10k max
NOTE: Results are obtained after the analysis and compared with the specifications as per
standard.

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6. SAFETY DATA SHEET.
Reactivity Alerts None
Air & Water Reactions Water soluble.
Fire Hazard This chemical is combustible.
Health Hazard harmful by ingestion, inhalation or skin absorption. Eye, skin
irritant.
Reactivity Profile DODECYL ALCOHOL ETHOXYLATE is incompatible with strong
oxidizing agents and strong bases.
Note:
Alcohol ethoxylates (AE) and alcohol ethoxysulfates (AES) are surfactants found in products
such as laundry detergents, surface cleaners, cosmetics, agricultural products, textiles, and paint
AES found in consumer products generally are linear alcohols, which could be mixtures of entirely
linear alkyl chains or of both linear and mono-branched alkyl chains. A high-volume example of
these is sodium laureth sulfate a foaming agent in shampoos and liquid soaps, as well as
industrial detergents.

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7. KEY BENEFITS AND APPLICATIONS OF SLES
 The product has good solvency, favorable hard-water resistance and high-
biodegradation. It also facilitates ease of formulation and production. In addition, it also
creates a degree of thickening to the final product formulation.
 It is widely used in many personal care and home care products like Shampoo, Bubble
Bath, Shower Gel, Face Wash, Dish Wash, Liquid Detergent and Hand Wash.
 It is also used in the printing and dyeing industry, petroleum and leather industry as
lubricant, dyeing agent, cleanser, foaming agent and degreasing agent.
 In liquid detergents and dish washing formulations for detergency and foaming
 In firefighting foams
7.2 SERVICE TO PROVIDE:
1. Before shipment, free sample for test
2. Packing as your request, with photo before shipment
3. Cargoes photo before and after loading into container
4. Fast shipment by reputed shipping line
5. Best service after shipment with emails

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8. TIMELINE:
To determine the effectiveness of the project, both internal and external audits shall be
conducted at the end of every month and every year respectively to determine progress of
business. External seminars and sensitization program in the cosmetic industries and small scale
industries in the communities to investigate how the establishment of the factory has impacted
their lives twice a year for every parish.
b) BENEFICIARIES.
 The idea targets unemployed natives to kick out poverty in the country.
 Good quality cheaper SLES to the cosmetic and detergent based manufacturing
companies.
 Government will benefit through indirect and direct taxes imposed on the company and
the product manufactured.
 Investors will earn as more profits will be generated.
c) JUSTIFICATION OF THE PROJECT AS PER MARKET ANALYSIS.
The market size for SLES is expected to surpass USD 10 million by next two years. This is
attributed to increasing demand for personal care products throughout the globe, especially in
developing countries, which boost the global SLES market. Increasing pollution and concerns
about personal grooming, appearance, and health will positively influence the global personal
care market, which generated more money in the country. And will have a decent growth rate
in the coming years. Moreover, regular development and commercialization of new personal
care products to meet specific customer demands will also bolster the global SLES market in the
forecast spell.

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9. ESTIMATED PROJECT COST (Ugshs)
Note; all costed at a small scale.
a) Fixed costs. ( capital investment)
NO ITEM Ugshs / YEAR
1 Land / rent 8,000,000
2 Machinery & Equipment 1,500,000
3 Transport 2,000,000
4 Furniture 1,000,000
5 Office Equipment 1,000,000
6 Installation costs 1,000,000
7
Temperature / pressure regulator (thermal
control system). 2,00,000
8 Pre-operations costs 3,500,000
Total fixed Capital Investment Costs 20,000,000
b) Working capital.
no Raw material Ugshs per kg.
1 Ethylene oxide 60000
2 Fatty alcohols - hydrogenated fatty acids 12000
3 Potassium hydroxide 10000
4 Sulfur trioxide 25000
5 Chlorosulfuric oxide 30000
6 Sodium hydroxide 10000
7 Triethanolamine – TEA 10000
8 (as per may 2021)
TOTAL. 157,000 Ugshs

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10. MONITORING AND EVALUATION.
A timely and coherent quarterly financial and progress reports pertaining to the project will
be attained.
Economic monitoring will be the major evaluation to be looked at. Social, Physical and
ecological monitoring, Social, Synthesis and analysis of monitoring data, State of the
environment reporting, Public consultation and participation, Performance evaluation,
Management capacity assessment, Outcome assessment, Mechanisms for adjustment and
adaptation.
b). DECLARATION
I declare that this concept note has never been presented before in its current form to any particular
field (chemistry). The existing projects have made available these modern technologies; the gap
that we intend to fill is the dissemination of knowledge and participation of the end users and to
enhance on the available knowledge in a novel way with chemical production as raw materials.
Signed:
Mr. Walakira Bruno
Researcher
Namanve industrial park, Kampala Uganda
Tel No: +256 770833485,
Email: walakirabruno70@gmail.com
MANDELA ENTERPRISES LIMITED
PROFILES OF DESIGNATED PERSONNEL.
1. MR. WALAKIRA BRUNO - industrial chemist
 BSc. Industrial Chemistry; Makerere University
 Certificate in project planning and management
 Certificate in lean management
 Experience in project management, quality analysis and manufacturing start – up.
 CALL: +256770833485
 Email : walakirabruno70@gmail.com
 Mandela Enterprises Ltd
 Quality l Value