DEVELOPMENT OF A LAUNDRY SOAP USING PALM KERNEL OIL AND CAUSTIC SODA

Abstract

Laundry soap is one of the most important household commodity used by average Nigerians today. With the recent call for production and promotion of indigenous household commodities, this paper presents the procedure for the production of a laundry soap. The procedure begins with pouring of Palm Kernel(PK) oil into plastic container and then adding soap dye. Caustic soda already dissolved in water was then added to the PK oil and the mixture then stirred. Soda ash fermented into the liquid was then added to the mixture. This followed by addition of colour dye and perfume  to the mixture. Sodium sulphate and hardener were finally added. Stirring rod was then used to mix the contents thoroughly. Thereafter, the mixture was brought to boil until it was thick. The process took about two hours. The final mixture was poured into the constructed mould and left to cool and set. When it became hard, the block of the soap was cut into slabs and finally into small bars. The soap produced is pink, solid and foaming very well. When used to wash cloth, it leaves lasting pleasant smell. Therefore, the paper recommends the use of the produced soap in every Nigerian household.