Linear alkylbenzene

Linear alkylbenzene is a family of organic compounds with the formula C₆H₅C_nH_2n+1. Typically, n lies between 10 and 16, although generally supplied as a tighter cut, such as C₁₂-C₁₅, C₁₂-C₁₃ and C₁₀-C₁₃, for detergent use. The C_nH_2n+1 chain is unbranched. They are sometimes called LABs. They are mainly produced as intermediate in the production of surfactants, for use in detergent. Since the 1960s, LABs have emerged as the dominant precursor of biodegradable detergents.