Potassium toluenesulfonate is a potassium chemical compound that belongs to a subgroup of the hydrotropic category, methyl (toluene sulfonates). It has the characteristic of improving solubility in apolar solvents and reducing solubility in polar solvents such as water.
The production of hydrotropes consists of the sulphonation of an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent: toluene, xylene or cumene. Then the resulting aromatic sulphonic acid is neutralised with a specific base such as ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide to obtain the hydrotrope or sulphonate.

What it is used for and where
Cosmetics
Hydrotrope (solubilizing agents). This compound has the property of facilitating the miscibility of other compounds that are poorly soluble in water and does not form micelles in the solubilisation process, even with a chemical reaction of complexation or molecular aggregation. The two fundamental solubilisation factors are the hydrotropic-solute association mediated by the depression of water activity and ionic dissociation.
Synonyms: Benezenesulfonic, 4-methyl-, potassium salt
4-Methylbenzenesulfonic acid, potassium salt
Potassium tosylate
Trade name:Eltesol PT40

CAS: 16106-44-8