The modern soap industry

Preston, Walter C.

doi:10.1021/ed002p1035

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Over the years this Journal has featured articles on the history (1,2) of soap, the industrial process of saponification (3)(4)(5), and laboratory-ready experiments (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13). The experiments and those in organic laboratory textbooks have described the hot (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(14)(15)(16) and cold (10,11) processes for making opaque soap, eq 1,…”

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confidence: 99%

Making Usable, Quality Opaque or Transparent Soap

Mabrouk

2005

J. Chem. Educ.

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First-year and organic chemistry students will learn the chemistry of soap by making some of the eleven described formulations, which produce usable, quality bars of soap. Opaque and transparent soaps are made in two and three hours, respectively. With an introduction to formulation chemistry, organic chemistry students can devise a formulation to synthesize their own opaque soap. Many of the formulations use commonly-available fats and oils, while some formulations incorporate specialty fats and oils for therapeutic purposes, for example, to relieve dry skin or itching. After one week of curing, the effectiveness of the prepared soap and commercially-available surfactants are tested in hard and soft water. The pH of the prepared soap, commercial surfactants, and the students' skin are measured and compared. In laboratory sections where students make soaps from different formulations, students can wash their hands with a bar of each and compare the quantity and quality of lather, the size of the bubbles, and the feel of the soap on the skin. Using these data, students can identify the best formulation for their skin and explain their selection.

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confidence: 99%

Making Usable, Quality Opaque or Transparent Soap

Mabrouk

2005

J. Chem. Educ.

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“…The pivotal method in soap production involves the amalgamation of fats and a soluble base salt, a process known as saponification, illustrated in equation ( 1) [11]. Alternatively, soap can be derived from the reaction between a fatty acid, such as stearic acid, and an alkali base salt like sodium hydroxide.…”

Section: Prefacementioning

confidence: 99%

From Fat to Foam: The Fascinating World of Soap Chemistry and Technology

Zahran

2023

Egypt. J. Chem.

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In our daily lives, the ubiquitous use of soap extends far beyond mere cleanliness, encompassing diverse applications such as dishwashing, laundry, and personal hygiene, enriching our sensory experience and ensuring a safer, more hygienic living and working environment. Contrary to common perception, the genesis of soap cleansers transcends their role in hygiene, representing a multifaceted innovation with historical roots. Despite its crucial role, soap production stands as a relatively understudied facet of ancient chemical innovation, lacking the archaeological imprints found in materials like ceramics or glass. Unlike inorganic materials, soap leaves no tangible archaeological artefacts to chronicle its evolution. Consequently, our understanding of the chemical technology behind soap relies heavily on historical accounts. The Mesopotamian mud tablets, dating back to the third millennium BCE, provide the most precise evidence of early soap production, offering a glimpse into the chemical ingenuity of our ancestors. While the basic combination of plant ashes and tallow could have facilitated soap production even earlier, concrete proof remains elusive. This article presents a comprehensive review encompassing the historical trajectory, chemical intricacies, technological advancements, and varied applications of soap cleansers. By delving into the annals of history and synthesizing contemporary knowledge, we aim to illuminate the intriguing journey of soap, an everyday marvel often taken for granted.

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“…The synthesis of soap via the hydrolysis of animal fat is a typical experiment encountered in a high school or college organic chemistry laboratory and has been described in many soap-making articles in this Journal (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14). The standard experiment hydrolyzes vegetable shortening and gives a reliable white soap (15).…”

Section: The Planmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthesis of Exotic Soaps in the Chemistry Laboratory

1998

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A variety of different triglyceride sources ranging from Vietnamese garlic oil to a local restaurant's grill sludge were saponified to generate a series of exotic soaps. Students did not quantify their results, but described their products in terms of color, texture and odor. Their results were compared with existing data on the triglyceride content for each source used (when possible). Soap texture seemed to be related to the degree of unsaturation present in the starting triglyceride. However, texture alterations due to occluded impurities could not be ruled out. In general, fats and oils high in saturated fats (butter) gave hard, chunky, and waxlike soaps, while those high in unsaturated fats gave flaky and easily crumbled soaps (olive, corn, peanut and sunflower oils). Soap color was not consistent with triglyceride unsaturation levels during the time frame studied. Odor changes were dramatic and were explained in terms of a change in chemical structure (i.e. conversion from an ester to a carboxylate salt). In general, the experiment was well received by students and stressed the importance of making precise qualitative observations during the experiment.

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The modern soap industry

Abstract: Part 1 of 2.

Cited by 9 publications

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Making Usable, Quality Opaque or Transparent Soap

Making Usable, Quality Opaque or Transparent Soap

From Fat to Foam: The Fascinating World of Soap Chemistry and Technology

Synthesis of Exotic Soaps in the Chemistry Laboratory

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