SUMMARY

This experiment purpose is to study the production of soap. During the experiment, the
theory and practical was fully used. It was observed that the mixture of the cooking oil (fatty
acid from palm oil), Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), Sodium Chloride (NaCl), and EDTA
(ethylenediaminetetraacetate) produced clumps of soap. The clumps of soap were compressed
together and pressed into a rectangular container and were then cut into several pieces using a
cutter. It was also observed that the bar soaps were generated using the Soap Stamper unit. As
results, 12 bar soaps were created from the mixture of cooking oil (fatty acid from palm oil),
Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), Sodium Chloride (NaCl), and EDTA
(ethylenediaminetetraacetate). Also, through observations, it is observed that the pH papers
used show values of 12 which confirms its alkaline properties. From that, the objectives of the
experiment were achieved
OBJECTIVE

 To produce the bar soap by using Fatty acid from palm oil.

 To determine pH test of the soap after curing.

 To determine amount of soap produce in the experiment

INTRODUCTION

As general, saponification really means to “make soap”. Soap is basically a substance

that is used for washing or cleaning, that usually consist of a mixture of sodium or potassium
salts of naturally occurring fatty acids. Soaps work by surrounding particles of grease or dirt
with their molecules, thereby lifting them from the surface and is washed away with the water
used to rinse. The saponification process used for this experiment is a process whereby
triglycerides are reacted with sodium or potassium hydroxide to produce glycerol and salts of
fatty acid.

The process for saponification basically use vegetable oil and animal fats. Due to the
greasy material which is name ‘triesters’ that is called ‘triglyceride’, its mixtures is derived
mainly from fatty acids. Fatty acids are carboxylic acid that contains hydrocarbon of 4 to 36
hydrocarbon chain which can either be saturated or unsaturated. Other than that, triglyceride is
treated with a strong base which then accelerates the cleavage of ester bonds that will
eventually release fatty acid salts and glycerol.

Below here are the fats (triglycerides) upon alkaline hydrolysis (either with
KOH or NaOH) yield glycerol and potassium or sodium salts of fatty acids (soap) that is the
process for saponification.
 The main purpose of this experiment is to produce a bar soap which is composed of
palm oil, that acts as fatty acid. This is one of the objectives of this experiment. Theoretically,
the fatty acid from the palm oil can produce a hard bar soap that cleans well. Furthermore,
some of the soap’s properties are its hardness, it has stable lather, its conditioning capability,
and has a silky feel. Sodium hydroxide was used to make hard solid soap in this experiment,
while in industries potassium hydroxide will be used to make liquid soap. A combination of
both will be used for production of cream soaps. The other objective is to determine pH value
of the soap. The normal pH value for the soap is in a range of 5 to 10. This experiment was
started with the preparation of the main chemical used in this experiment which is the sodium
chloride, sodium hydroxide and EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetate). After the preparation of
chemicals, the raw materials are mixed in the Reactor Machine by sequence. The pH value of
the product from the reactor had to be obtain and will then be fabricated to the desired shape
through the Soap Stamper.
METHODOLOGY

Firstly, the materials which are
cooking oil (1000g), Sodium
Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, EDTA,
Distilled Water were prepared and
pH paper was provided.
Then, the amount of solution that was
needed for the experiment was
calculated. Calculation was done
carefully so the amount of product
obtained can be predicted.

Next, prepare 135.0g of NaOH, 27.0g
of NaCL and 2.7g of EDTA was
prepared after calculations. Distilled
water was used to dilute the
chemicals. The same amount of
distilled water was used respectively
The solution was mixed in the mixing
process. The 1000g of oil was mixed
with the solutions until a semi solid
mixture is obtain. Temperature was
held below 70°c constantly during the
whole mixing process.

Next, the product was placed into the

mold and was cooled down and
hardened. The product is then cut into
the size of an average soap. The soap is
then covered in tissue paper to prevent
The soap was left for a week after
from sticking to the stamper.
stamping to lower its pH value
DISCUSSION

Based on the experiment, the objective was to make soaps by using saponification
process. By the mixing of cooking oil(palm oil), NaOH solution, NaCl solution together and
EDTA solution. (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid) forms soap (Salt of Fatty Acid) that have
high pH value. The apparatus that was used to conduct the experiment was the Reactor Machine
(Soap Making Unit) and the Soap Stamper that gave the soap its identical marking which is
MARA on one side and MICET on the other side.

1000 grams of cooking oil, 135.07grams of NaOH, 27grams of NaCl, and 2.7grams of
EDTA were prepared in different beakers with different sizes. NaOH, NaCl and EDTA were
mixed with the same of their specific weight of distilled water. After that, all the diluted
chemical were mixed together with the cooking oil in the Reactor Machine (Soap Making Unit)
step by step with NaOH solution added first. Three minutes was waited before adding the NaCl
and another 3 minutes to add the last chemical that is the EDTA solution. This to ensure each
of the chemical is mixed properly by waiting the 3 minute intervals. Then, wait the mixture to
continue mixing until it becomes a semi-solid state or precisely resembles “mashed potato”
state. The temperature was made sure to not exceed more than 70°C. After the product was
formed, it was put into a rectangular container(mold) and compressed and was left to cool for
30minutes. When the mold was done cooling, the product was taken out from the container and
were cut into several rectangular shapes. After that, each of the rectangles soap was wrapped
with a piece of tissue and places at the Soap Stamper to be stamped into the desired shaped as
it looks in the result of the experiment. The purpose of wrapping the soap with tissue is to
prevent it from sticking to the Soap Stamper.

According to the theory of saponification, soap is a compound of fatty acids and salt.
They are mainly used for washing, bathing and cleaning, but some are used in textile spinning
and are important components of lubricants. Soaps is used for cleansing usually by using
vegetable or animals oil and fats with a strong alkaline solution. Fats and oils form of
triglycerides: three molecules of fatty acids are attached to a single molecule of glycerol. The
Iye which the alkaline solution that which is often used in soap production, brings out the
chemical reaction that mainly known as saponification. In the reaction, the triglyceride fats are
hydrolysed into three fatty acids and then they were combined with the alkali to form the crude
soap, a mixture of various soaps salts, excess fat or alkali, water and glycerine (liberated
glycerol). The glycerine is a useful product, which can be left in the soap product as softening
agent, or isolated for others used. At the end of the experiment, the objectives of the experiment
was obtained with the results of the experiment.
RESULTS

Figure 1 – Soap Product (MARA MICET)

CONCLUSION

In the end of the experiment, we have obtained the knowledge for the production of
soap as the theory has stated. We also have learned that when triglycerides react with sodium
or potassium hydroxide then the reaction will produce fatty acids and glycerol (hard soap or
liquid soap based on lye used). The pH value of the soap produced was also tested and based
on the results the soap is alkaline. The amount of soap that would be produced was also
determined, which was 14 bars of soap. In a nutshell, the objectives of this experiment were
achieved based on the outcomes of this experiment.
RECOMMENDATION

To prevent any physical errors from occurring during the experiment, the experimenters
should wait patiently for the amalgam to be mixed thoroughly in the Reactor Machine. This
will allow the amalgam to be entirely mixed. Furthermore, while the experimenters are stirring
the mixture in the process, the temperature should be maintained below 90⁰C to prevent the
soap from being too hard to be shaped. Other than that, the experimenters should stay focus
throughout the experiment. The experimenters’ concentration will contribute to the accuracy
of the results. Ensure that all the wires and apparatus are checked prior to the experiment. The
experiment was conducted by referring lab manual and request guide from the technician when
needed.
TUTORIALS
1. What is an acceptable pH range for hand/body soap.

 The pH level of soaps varies where Dove’s soap has a pH value of 6 but Nivea’s has a
pH value of 10. This is commonly determined by the function of the soap. A general
soap will have a pH level of between 5 and 10.

2. Describe the function of each ingredient based on the properties of the products you
prepared.

 Sodium hydroxide: it is used to hydrolyse triglyceride(fats), Oils and Grease. During the
process, glycerol is formed. Is also used to form hard soap.
 Sodium Chloride: added to separate the soap from the excess water
 EDTA: is used to reduce water hardness in laundry applications rely on EDTA to bind
Ca2+, Mg2+, as well as other metal ions. Once bound to EDTA, these metal tend not to
form precipitates or to interfere with the action of the soaps and detergents.
 Cooking oil (palm oil): used as oil base or ester that was need for the saponification
process. It contributes to soap hardness, stable lather, conditioning, silky feel, quicker
trace. Palm oil makes a hard bar that cleans well and is also mild.

3. The saponification reaction is given by the reaction below:

Given relative atomic mass of C(12), H(1), O(16), Na (23), Calculate the amount
of reactant needed to produce 700 g of soap.
Mass = molecular mass x mole

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
Number of mole = 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠

700𝑔
= 2.2876 𝑚𝑜𝑙
306 𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑙 −1

2.2876 mol of sodium stearate = 700 gram

3 mol NaOH = 3 mol of Sodium stearate

2.2876 mol of Sodium Stearate = 2.2876 mol of NaOH

2.287 mol x 40 gmol -1 = 91.5032 gram NaOH

1 mol of ester = 3 mol of Sodium Stearate

1⁄ x 2.2876 mol = 0.7625mol

3
0.7625mol 891 g mol -1 = 679.4172 gram of ester
1 mol of glycerol = 3 mol of Sodium Stearate
1⁄ x 2.2876 mol = 0.7625mol
3
0.7625 mol x 92 mol -1 = 70.15 gram of glycerol
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