Any product created from a mixture of natural oils or fats and sodium hydroxide or similar potent alkali, generally with fragrance and coloring added, and used with water for washing and cleaning is known as soap.
Soaps are surfactants that are frequently used in homes for washing, bathing, and other housekeeping tasks. Soaps are employed in industrial contexts as thickeners, lubricant components, and catalyst precursors.
The term “liquid soap” refers to soap in its liquid form, while the term “bar soap” refers to soap in its solid state. Liquid soap has changed from being solid. Even though soap is in liquid form, this does not mean that it has lost its effectiveness. The only difference between the two is that bar soap is made with sodium hydroxide while liquid soap is made with potassium hydroxide.
Making liquid soap in Nigeria can indeed be a great source of income for whoever is interested in making it. Liquid soap is a product that is considered to be a daily necessity and is in great demand in the majority of homes, restaurants, hotels, cafes, and workplaces. Liquid soap is a product all households cannot do without every single day. The product is in high demand due to this daily need.
If you will read to the end then I assure you that all you need to make a liquid soap here in Nigeria will be revealed to you.
Procedure
For a particular goal to be achieved in life, certain procedures have to be followed, the steps and guides below should be carefully followed for the creation of quality liquid soap.
Ingredients
You’ll need the following components to manufacture 40 liters of liquid soap:
- 6-16 teaspoons of Formalin (optional).
- 10-20 teaspoons of Sodium Tripolyphosphate (STPP).
- 2 liters of Sulphuric acid.
- 6-16 teaspoons of Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLS).
- 10-20 teaspoons of.
- 165 grams of Caustic Soda.
- 245 grams of Soda Ash.
- 480 grams of either Antisol, Nitrosol, or CMC (Carboxymethyl cellulose).
- Colorant and perfume fragrance (optional).
- 35 liters of clean water.
Functions And Description Of Chemicals Used For Liquid Soap Making
1. Sodium Triphosphate
One of the chemicals you should be aware of and employ while manufacturing liquid soap is this substance, which has the symbol or formula Na5P3O10 and is also sometimes referred to as STPP. This substance serves as a thickening and cleaning agent.
2. Sulfonic Acid
Sulfonic acid, which is an organosulfur molecule, is a good choice to use as a cleaning and foaming agent if you want your liquid soap to be more natural. This chemical, which has the general formula RS(=O)2OH, will cancel off the primary effects of caustic soda.
3. Formalin
The majority of liquid soaps no longer include this ingredient in their manufacturing process due to the harm it causes. This substance has been replaced with better substances like Benzoic acid, Sodium Benzoate, and Citric Acid.
4. Sodium Carbonate
A water-soluble sodium salt with the chemical formula Na2CO3 is sometimes referred to as soda ash and soda crystal. A liquid soap contains soda ash as a cleaning agent. But in addition to being a cleaning agent, it also thickens soap. This substance is distinctive in that it can be made in a variety of ways, including by mining in several U.S. regions, extraction from plants and seaweed, the Leblanc process, and the Solvay process.
5. Hydroxyethylcellulose
Hydroxyethylcellulose, often known as Natrosol, is a thickening and cleaning agent. It is available in powder form, and when dissolved in either cold or hot water, it yields crystal-clear solutions with a range of viscosities. In addition to being a component in liquid soap, it is also utilized in porcelain, ceramics, glue, and many other products.
Items Needed For Making Liquid Soap
As a prerequisite to creating liquid soap, you must have the following materials;
- Nose mask
- Stirring rod
- Cans
- Hand gloves
- Bottles
- Spoons
- Measuring bowls
Steps Involved In Making Liquid Soap
- Dissolve the caustic soda with 2 liters of water and leave for either one hour or overnight.
- Pour 2 liters of water over the soda ash to dissolve it, then wait for an hour or overnight.
- Add the texapon to the sulphonic acid that has been poured into a measuring bowl. Add the perfume fragrance right away if you want your liquid soap to have a pleasant scent. After that, pour in 10 liters of water and carefully stir for 10 minutes.
- Use 1.25 liters of water to dissolve the sodium Laureth sulfate. Dissolve the sodium tripolyphosphate using an additional 1.25 liters of water.
- You can add Antisol, Nitrosol, or CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose), depending on which is available to you. Remember to dissolve CMC in 10 liters of water two days before the day that soap will be made.
- Carefully mix in the dissolved caustic soda. Add the dissolved soda ash next, and carefully stir once more. If you use formalin, add it right away.
- Stir thoroughly before adding the dissolved Sodium Tripolyphosphate. Then, add the dissolved sodium Laureth sulfate and stir one more. At this point, if you’re using a colorant, put it in.
- Depending on the texture you want your soap to have, add the remaining water. The mixture can be left for about a day before you need to use it. Store in a cool dry place.
You can see that making liquid soap from scratch is rather simple to master. As long as you have the necessary equipment and ingredients, which are listed in this guide, the process is not particularly difficult.
Qualities Of A Good Liquid Soap
- It must have a sweet fragrance.
- The soap is expected to foam very well.
- It must not cause any form of irritation to the skin.
- Must be durable.
- The color must be appealing.
Precautions And Safety During Production
- Never taste any chemicals with the tongue.
- Use a nose mask.
- Wear rubber gloves.
- Wear your apron before commencing production.
- In case of chemical splashes on your face or delicate part of the body, wash very well with water and see the physician.