Chemical Process Laboratory ChE 410

Experiment No. 2

Production of Soap

Discussion:

All soaps and detergents contain a surfactant as their active ingredient. This is an ionic species
consisting of a long, linear, non-polar 'tail' with a cationic or anionic 'head' and a counter ion.
The tail is water insoluble and the head is water soluble - a difference in solubility which has
two important implications.

Firstly, this makes the surfactant molecule a wetting agent: the tails migrate to align themselves
with the solid: water interface, lowering the surface tension at that point so that it penetrates
the fabric better.

Secondly, it allows the oily dirt particles to form an emulsion with the water: the tails of many
surfactant molecules surround an oily dirt particle, forming a micelle with a drop of oil in the
center and the ionic heads of the surfactant molecules pointing outwards and hence keeping
the micelle in the polar solution.

Procedures:

Step 1 - Saponification
A mixture of tallow (animal fat) and coconut oil is mixed with sodium hydroxide and heated.
The soap produced is the salt of a long chain carboxylic acid.

Step 2 - Glycerine removal

Glycerine is more valuable than soap, so most of it is removed. Some is left in the soap to help
make it soft and smooth. Soap is not very soluble in salt water, whereas glycerine is, so salt is
added to the wet soap causing it to separate out into soap and glycerine in salt water.

Step 3 - Soap purification

Any remaining sodium hydroxide is neutralized with a weak acid such as citric acid and two
thirds of the remaining water removed.

Step 4 - Finishing
Additives such as preservatives, color and perfume are added and mixed in with the soap and it
is shaped into bars for sale.

Reference:

https://nzic.org.nz/app/uploads/2017/10/11A.pdf

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Chemical Process Laboratory ChE 410

Laboratory Individual Report

Name:​ Opeña, Kathleen C. D

​ ate:​ September 20, 2020

Section:​ ChE-3102 R
​ ating​: __________

Experiment No. 2

Production of Hard Soap using Cold Process

I. Discussion

Cold process soap is made without any external heat applied to it. The mixture of oils and
sodium hydroxide lye, which induces a chemical reaction called saponification, produces cold
process soap. You can select the oils, scents, dyes and any other ingredients in the process. It's
a perfect way for someone to learn the art of making soap and spa crafts. The art of
soap-making can be traced as far back as ancient Babylon when archaeologists, during an
excavation, first discovered a soap material inside clay cylinders dating as early as 2800 B.C.
Today the cold soap-making process system has developed to rely on a different ingredient
called sodium hydroxide or widely known as lye. Some of the best soap makers in the world use
the form for cold processing. Savon de marseille, for example, was one of Southern France's
best-kept secrets, and only in modern history have these artisanal soaps made their way to
other parts of the world. Its excellent qualities, such as olive oil, sea ash and sea saltwater, are
admired for their gentle skin nourishment. This is because every product is sourced carefully,
and the process is regulated from start to finish.

II. Objective/s

The main objective of this experiment is to produce soap using a cold process.

III. Materials/Reagents

● Water
● Lye
● Oils
● Fragrances and colorants
● Digital scale
● Thermometer
● Heat-proof containers

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Chemical Process Laboratory ChE 410

● Mixing tools (spoon/spatula)

● Cutting tools (knife/wire soap cutter)
● Soap Mold

IV. Drawings/Set-up

Assemble all the needed

ingredients and safety gears for
the experiment.

Prepare the mold.​ I​ f using a loaf or

box mold, line it with freezer paper or
parchment paper.

Weigh the water.​ ​First, measure out

the water into a stainless steel or heavy
duty polypropylene plastic container.
Mark this container clearly with a
symbol such as a skull and crossbones
and don’t put it in your fridge or on the
counter where someone might mistake
it for a beverage.

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Chemical Process Laboratory ChE 410

Weigh the lye.​ Make sure to wear

gloves and goggles in transferring the
lye into a container.

Pour the lye into the water.​ ​Make

sure you pour the lye into water that is
cool or no warmer than room temp.
Note:​ Always add the lye to the liquid
and not the other way around. Lye +
water shoots up to over 200 degrees F
quickly, so use caution when handling.

Weigh and heat the oils, butters &

fats.​ ​Do this while the lye solution is
cooling. You can either heat everything
together in a stainless steel soaping pot
and then let it cool to 90 to 115
degrees F.

Monitor the temperatures and

combine.​ ​Once the desired temps are
reached, slowly drizzle the lye solution
into the container of oils and butters.

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Chemical Process Laboratory ChE 410

Blend until trace.​ U ​ sing a ​stick

blender​, blend the soap in short bursts
of a few seconds at a time, stirring by
hand with the motor off in between
times. Once the trace is reached, add
any extras such as honey, oatmeal,
natural colorants, and essential oils and
hand stir/blend for just a bit more until
they are all incorporated.

Pour the soap batter into the mold.

Working quickly, pour the soap into
your prepared mold, smoothing the top
with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon
if needed. Pick up the mold and give it
a few sharp raps on the table or
counter surface to help get rid of any
little air bubbles that may have formed.

Cover and insulate the mold. ​This

keeps the soap warm so that it can go
through the gel phase and finish
saponifying. ​Leave undisturbed for
about 24 to 36 hours.

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Chemical Process Laboratory ChE 410

Unmold and slice into bars. U ​ se a

knife or you can use a wire soap cutter
like the one shown on the figure. Let
the bars of soap cure in the open air on
pieces of wax paper, turning
occasionally, for at least 4 weeks.

V. Observation/Discussion of Results

Various methods are involved in soap making using the cold process. Specifically, this
experiment makes use of oils and lye in producing soap. Lye is a very vital ingredient in soap
making processes because ​without lye, the oils in your recipe would stay oils. Nothing would
happen to them. It is most commonly known as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or caustic soda. The
chemical soap-making reaction, called saponification, is complete, combining the molecules of
lye and oil and chemically converting them into soap and glycerin. If the soap is made properly,
the lye is used to transform oil into soap during the saponification process. However, lye
handling can be quite dangerous. Lye may burn the skin and, in a dry or wet form, harm the
eyes. When combined with water, it also releases gases that can damage the lungs. If this
experiment was performed face-to-face, members of the group should consider proper
handling of this kind of reagents. It is also mentioned in this experiment the term “trace” which
is obtained by blending all the ingredients. This is the point where the emulsification of oils and
lye water is carried out. There will be no lines of oil at a thin trace and the soap will be the
consistency of thin cake batter. If the soap lies, the trace will begin to densify to medium and
thick. Observing this kind of method, I could say that the cold process is quite easy and simple
to perform. Cold process soap does not have any additional detergents which strip the skin of
its natural oils. Soap from the cold process is formed by a chemical reaction between
lye-sodium hydroxide and oils. Additional ingredients can be added, such as fragrance and
colorants, to improve the benefits of loving skin. Cold process soaps are safer for the
environment, healthier for the skin and extremely moisturizing can be made.

VI. Conclusions/Generalizations

In conclusion, the cold process method is highly effective in soap making. Soap can be actually
made without any external interaction with heat. However, there are few factors to consider in
this process such as safety and proper measurement and ratio of the variables. The cold
process soap-making can be considered as a basic method of soap production.

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VII. References

Alexandra Churchill January 21, & Churchill, A. (2019, January 21). Cold Process Soap: An
Expert Guide to Making it at Home. Retrieved September 20, 2020, from
https://www.marthastewart.com/1535651/cold-process-soap-making

Is There Lye In Natural Soap? Won't It Harm My Skin? (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2020,
from
https://www.chagrinvalleysoapandsalve.com/blog/posts/is-there-lye-in-natural-soap-wont-it-har
m-my-skin/

Says, L., Says, T., Says, C., Says, C., Says, L., Says, S., . . . Says, M. (2019, February 22).
Formulating Cold Process Soap Recipes. Retrieved September 20, 2020, from
https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/formulating-cold-process-r
ecipes/

Soap Making 101: Cold Process Soap. (2018, September 15). Retrieved September 20, 2020,
from https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/soap-making-101-making-cold-process-soap/

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