Ca · Low TBN
Low TBN Calcium Sulfonate
TBN 20–50. Rust preventives, anti-rust oils, marine cylinder oil base. Excellent water demulsibility.
View productSulfonate Detergent Additives — Calcium, Magnesium & Barium Sulfonate Supplier
★ 7 Products · Low to Overbased TBN · Bulk Supply
The detergent backbone of modern engine and marine oils.
Low / Medium / High TBN and Overbased calcium sulfonate, plus overbased magnesium, barium and zinc sulfonate complex — the complete sulfonate detergent toolkit for PCMO, HDDO, marine cylinder oils and rust preventives.
7
Sulfonate Products
20–500
TBN Range Available
Ca/Mg/Ba/Zn
Metal Cation Options
60+
Countries Served
About Sulfonate Detergents
The most widely used detergent family in lubricant formulation
Sulfonate detergents are metal-containing overbased additives that do two jobs at once — neutralize acids from combustion and oxidation, and keep engine surfaces clean by suspending deposits.
The molecule has two parts: a long-chain alkylbenzene sulfonate "tail" that anchors to oil-soluble surfaces, and a metal carbonate "head" that provides the alkalinity reserve. By varying the metal cation (calcium, magnesium, barium, zinc) and the overbasing ratio, Sinolook's sulfonate range covers everything from rust preventive at TBN 30 to marine cylinder oil at TBN 400+.
How Sulfonate Detergents Work
Neutralization + suspension — two jobs, one molecule
Inside the engine, sulfonate detergent micelles encapsulate a reserve of metal carbonate. As acidic combustion by-products migrate into the oil, the carbonate core neutralizes them; the sulfonate shell holds carbonaceous deposits in stable suspension so they drain out at the next oil change.
Selection Guide
Pick the right TBN for your application
TBN (Total Base Number) measures alkalinity reserve in mg KOH/g. The higher the TBN, the more acid the detergent can neutralize per gram — but also the higher the calcium content and the more sensitive to seal compatibility. Match TBN to fuel sulphur level and engine duty cycle.
Level 01
20–50 mg KOH/g
Low TBN
Rust preventives, anti-rust oils, marine cylinder oil base stock.
Level 02
100–200 mg KOH/g
Medium TBN
Engine oils, industrial oils, hydraulic fluids, light-duty diesel.
Level 03
250–330 mg KOH/g
High TBN
Heavy-duty diesel engine oils, marine system oils, gas engines.
Level 04 BEST SELLER
400+ mg KOH/g
Overbased
Marine cylinder oils, calcium sulfonate complex grease, residual fuel HDDO.
Our Sulfonate Detergent Range
Seven sulfonate detergent products, every TBN and metal cation
From calcium to magnesium, barium and zinc — choose by metal cation, TBN level, and target application. Click any card for full specifications, treat rates and TDS / MSDS download.
Ca · Medium TBN
Medium TBN Calcium Sulfonate
TBN 100–200. Engine oils, industrial oils, hydraulic fluids. Balanced detergency and oxidation stability.
View product
Ca · High TBN
High TBN Calcium Sulfonate
TBN 250–330. Heavy-duty diesel, marine system oils. Strong acid neutralization for high-sulphur fuel.
View product
★ Ca · Overbased
Overbased Calcium Sulfonate
TBN 400+. Marine cylinder oils, calcium sulfonate complex grease thickener, premium HDDO. Most versatile.
View product
Mg · Overbased
Overbased Magnesium Sulfonate
TBN 400+. Marine cylinder oils, residual-fuel engines, gas engine oils. Better high-temp detergency.
View product
Ba · Overbased
Overbased Barium Sulfonate
Specialty rust preventives, industrial gear oils, metal-working fluids. Unique anti-corrosion properties.
View product
Zn · Complex
Zinc Sulfonate Complex
Rust preventives, anti-corrosion fluids, industrial oils. Corrosion inhibitor with sulfonate carrier.
View product
At a Glance
Sulfonate detergent specifications compared
Quick reference on TBN, metal cation and typical applications across the seven sulfonate products. Detailed parameters (viscosity, flash point, metal content) are on each individual product TDS.
| Product | Metal | TBN (mg KOH/g) | Typical Treat Rate | Main Application | Full Specs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low TBN Calcium Sulfonate | Ca | 20–50 | 1–3% | Rust preventives, marine base | Per TDS → |
| Medium TBN Calcium Sulfonate | Ca | 100–200 | 3–5% | Engine oil, industrial, hydraulic | Per TDS → |
| High TBN Calcium Sulfonate | Ca | 250–330 | 4–7% | HDDO, marine system oils | Per TDS → |
| Overbased Calcium Sulfonate ★ | Ca | 400+ | 5–8% | Marine cylinder, grease, premium HDDO | Per TDS → |
| Overbased Magnesium Sulfonate | Mg | 400+ | 3–6% | Marine cylinder, gas engines | Per TDS → |
| Overbased Barium Sulfonate | Ba | Custom | 1–4% | Rust preventives, industrial gear, MWF | Per TDS → |
| Zinc Sulfonate Complex | Zn | Custom | 0.5–3% | Rust preventives, anti-corrosion fluids | Per TDS → |
Treat rates indicative for typical formulations. Refer to individual product TDS and your formulation target for actual dosing.
Why Source Sulfonate Detergents from Sinolook
Built for lubricant blenders — not just traders
Sulfonate detergents are technically demanding additives: TBN must be reproducible batch-to-batch, sediment must be under control, viscosity must stay within spec. Here's what we bring.
ADVANTAGE 01
Full TBN ladder, one supplier
20 to 400+ TBN, four metal cations (Ca, Mg, Ba, Zn). Order multiple TBN levels in one shipment, qualify once, scale up faster.
ADVANTAGE 02
Batch-to-batch TBN consistency
In-house ASTM D2896 TBN testing on every batch + SGS confirmation. Typical batch variance ≤ ±3 mg KOH/g.
ADVANTAGE 03
Bundle with ADNOC Group III base oil
Pair your sulfonate package with ADbase 4/6/8 cSt premium base oil from one supplier. One PO, one bonded shipment.
ADVANTAGE 04
Reference treat rates & starting formulations
Get suggested treat rates for API SP, ACEA C3, API CK-4, marine cylinder TBN 70/100/140 and Ca sulfonate complex grease bases on request.
Related Detergent & Dispersant Categories
Compare sulfonates with the other detergent families
Modern engine oils typically use sulfonates as the primary detergent backbone, paired with a phenate or salicylate co-detergent and an ashless dispersant. Explore the other categories that complete the package.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is a sulfonate detergent additive?
A sulfonate detergent is a metal-containing lubricant additive made by reacting a long-chain alkylbenzene sulfonic acid with a metal hydroxide or carbonate (calcium, magnesium or barium). The resulting overbased structure contains a reserve of metal carbonate that neutralizes acidic combustion by-products, while the sulfonate surfactant shell keeps deposits suspended and engine surfaces clean. Sulfonates are the most widely used detergent family in modern engine oils, marine cylinder oils and heavy-duty diesel engine oils.
What does TBN mean in sulfonate detergents?
TBN (Total Base Number) measures the alkalinity reserve of a detergent in milligrams of KOH per gram of product. Sinolook's sulfonate range covers four levels:
• Low TBN (20–50) — rust preventives, marine cylinder base
• Medium TBN (100–200) — engine and industrial oils
• High TBN (250–330) — heavy-duty diesel, marine system
• Overbased (400+) — marine cylinder oils, Ca sulfonate complex grease, premium HDDO
• Low TBN (20–50) — rust preventives, marine cylinder base
• Medium TBN (100–200) — engine and industrial oils
• High TBN (250–330) — heavy-duty diesel, marine system
• Overbased (400+) — marine cylinder oils, Ca sulfonate complex grease, premium HDDO
What is the difference between calcium, magnesium and barium sulfonates?
Calcium sulfonate is the workhorse — best cost-to-performance balance, used in most engine oils.
Magnesium sulfonate provides better high-temperature detergency and rust protection, often used in marine cylinder oils and gas engine oils where residual fuel acidity is high.
Barium sulfonate has unique anti-corrosion properties and is reserved for specialty rust preventives, industrial gear oils and metal-working fluids.
Zinc sulfonate complex serves as a corrosion inhibitor in rust preventive and anti-corrosion fluid formulations.
Magnesium sulfonate provides better high-temperature detergency and rust protection, often used in marine cylinder oils and gas engine oils where residual fuel acidity is high.
Barium sulfonate has unique anti-corrosion properties and is reserved for specialty rust preventives, industrial gear oils and metal-working fluids.
Zinc sulfonate complex serves as a corrosion inhibitor in rust preventive and anti-corrosion fluid formulations.
What is the typical treat rate for sulfonate detergents?
Typical treat rates range from 2 to 8 percent of the finished formulation, depending on TBN level and application:
• Low-TBN at 1–3% in rust preventives
• Mid-TBN at 3–5% in engine oils
• High-TBN at 4–7% in heavy-duty diesel
• Overbased at 5–8% in marine cylinder oils
Final treat rate is determined by your spec target and base oil chemistry — Sinolook provides reference starting formulations on request.
• Low-TBN at 1–3% in rust preventives
• Mid-TBN at 3–5% in engine oils
• High-TBN at 4–7% in heavy-duty diesel
• Overbased at 5–8% in marine cylinder oils
Final treat rate is determined by your spec target and base oil chemistry — Sinolook provides reference starting formulations on request.
Why use overbased sulfonates instead of high-TBN sulfonates?
Overbased sulfonates (TBN 400+) carry significantly more alkalinity reserve per gram than high-TBN (250–330) versions, meaning the lubricant blender uses less additive for the same neutralization capacity. Overbased grades are also the primary thickener for calcium sulfonate complex grease — a single product that provides both thickening and EP / rust performance. The trade-off: overbased products contain more calcium / magnesium, so seal compatibility and ash limits must be checked against your spec.
Are Sinolook's sulfonate detergents suitable for API CK-4 and ACEA E-class formulations?
Yes. High-TBN and overbased calcium / magnesium sulfonates from Sinolook are used in formulations meeting API CK-4 / FA-4 and ACEA E6 / E9 specifications for heavy-duty diesel engine oils. We supply additive components only — final qualification testing (Sequence engine tests, OEM approvals) is the responsibility of the lubricant blender.
What documentation does Sinolook provide with sulfonate detergent shipments?
Every shipment is accompanied by a Technical Data Sheet (TDS), Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS / SDS in GHS format), and batch-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA) showing TBN, viscosity, flash point, calcium / magnesium / barium content and other key parameters. Documents are available in English and Chinese. Reference treat rates and starting formulations are provided on request — email sales@sinolook.com or message us on WhatsApp.
What packaging and MOQ does Sinolook offer for sulfonate detergents?
Standard packaging: 200L drum (sample / qualification), 1000L IBC tote (pilot batches), flexitank (20 MT), and ISO tank container (~20 MT commercial supply). MOQ typically 1 drum for samples and 1 ISO tank for commercial supply. Global bonded storage network across strategic Asia-Pacific hubs enables rapid delivery worldwide.
Ready to spec your sulfonate detergent package?
Tell us your target TBN, base oil group, and finished oil spec (API SP, CK-4, ACEA C3, marine TBN 100, etc.) — we'll respond within 24 hours with TDS, suggested treat rate and a delivered quotation.
Request a Quote