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QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF SOME SOAP

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 Academic Publications and Research Association of Nigeria (APRAN) Volume 6.No. 1 September, 2012 PP 73-84

QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF SOME SOAP

BY
ABUBAKAR EL-ISHAQ AND ANIH CHIOMA ANTHONIA

CORRESPONDENCE E-MAIL: ishaq_abubakar@yahoo.com

SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

SCIENCE LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, DAMATURU
YOBE STATE
Abstract
Total number of sixteen soap were analyzed, ten toilet and six laundry soap. The result obtained
revealed that Lux soap have the highest foaming height 22.00mm followed by Needz and Zee,
while Hala recorded the least foaming height 03.00mm. For laundry soap, Zip recorded the
highest foaming with a value of 15.00mm and Tempo was the least foaming height of 0.00mm.
The foaming time of toilet was observed under 24 hour’s duration. The hardness of soap was
determined and the result obtained shows that Needz and Joy, have the highest hardness of
15.67Nmm2. The least hardness was recorded for Olive with a hardness of 5.OONmm2. The
laundry soap analyse shows that bubbles have highest value 13.33Nmm2, the least hardness was
obtained in Zip 2.OONmm2. The matter insoluble in ethanol (MIIE) revealed that Hala have the
highest percentage of MIIE 50%. The least was found in Carex with 7.20%. The research work
bears some recommendations for present and future Needs.

Introduction
Soap is a cleansing agent which is chemically an alkali metal salt of long chain monocarboxylic
acids. Soap is chemically represented as CH3COONa where R- is the hydrocarbon chain and is
hydrophobic and CH3COONa the polar group and is hydrophobic. For detergency purposes,
useful soaps contain hydrophic carbon chain of 12 to 18. If the hydrophobic portion contains less
than 12 carbon atoms the soap cannot remove oil and if the hydrophobic portion contain more
than 18 carbon atoms. The soap is actually a detergent but detergent has been used loosely to
refer to only synthetic detergent.

Fillers used in soap making;

Soap additives gives certain properties and quality to soap, certain substance are added to the
neat soap. Some of these additives are:

◙ Colour pigment: example dyes. These give specific colour to the soap.

◙ Builders: The building boosts cleaning power of soap they are usually condensed phosphate
(Sodium tripolyphosphate) which is a deflocculated and water softener and silicate.

◙ Washing soap: this is water softener and allows soap to be used with hard water. Washing soda
is sodium carbonate.
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 Academic Publications and Research Association of Nigeria (APRAN) Volume 6.No. 1 September, 2012 PP 73-84

◙ Auxiliary agents: these are foam stabilizers and are organic matter that are closely related
surfactants; that is having water non polar hydrocarbon with water soluble polar group.

◙ Optical brighteners or whiteners or fluoresces: there are complex organic compound that
fluoresces and are called fluoresces and also called colorless dyes as they impart on colour. They
deposit more or less irreversible on the fabric during washing and fluoresces in sunlight thereby
producing a brighter than normal appearance.

◙ Anti redeposit ion agents: these prevent re-deposition of sonic component of removed dirt on
the fabric.

Commercia1 soap making was widespread in the middle ages in Europe. The boiling of fats
with ashes was recorded as early as 2500BC: chervils (1811) discovered that soap was
composed of a mixture of fatty acids which paved way to modern soap manufacturing
processes (James, l992),

Soap is alkali metals of long chain monocarboxylic acid. Fats and oil used in soap
making are triglycerides (Obidipe,1995). Soaps are manufactured from caustic soda
caustic potash and organic fats and oils such as tallow, palm oil, and olive oil. Soap is a
mixture of sodium salt of long chain organic acids derived from fats and oils (Stove and
Philips, 1971).

According to new Webster dictionary of English, it define soap as a cleansing or

emulsifying agent usually made from fat and oils by saponification. It consists of a mixture
of alkali metal salts of fatty acids, perfumes, colouring agent, and disinfectant which are
soluble in water. Both fats and oil are esters of trihydric alkanols i.e. propane — 1, 2, 3 —
triol, each molecules of propane — 1, 2, 3 — triol is esterifies with three molecules of fatty
acids.

The organic is the hydrophobic end of molecules while the carboboxylate end. (- COO-)
of sodium or potassium soap is hydrophilic end. Other common metal salts of long chain Organic
acid are not soluble, and therefore are poor surfactants (Ababio, 2004).

Soap are sodium (RCOO:Na+) or potassium (RCOOK+) or triethanolammoniun (RN+

CH3CH2OH)3 salt of long chain organic acid (Bajah et al., 1992).

Functions of Fillers

Although, chemically speaking many organic substance commonly used in bath water
such as (soap) and any other surfactants are salt, these referred to as “bath salt” as they are not
used in the form of hard, crystalline granules. On the other hand, some organic salt such as
sodium citrate can be used in bath salts.

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 Academic Publications and Research Association of Nigeria (APRAN) Volume 6.No. 1 September, 2012 PP 73-84

Chemistry of Soap (Saponification)

Acid catalyzed by hydrolysis of fats and oils usually yield long chain fatty acid and
glycerol (propane — 1, 2, 3 triol). When an alkali (base) is used in the (hydrolysis) salts of fatty

acids would be obtained along with propan-1, 2, 3 - triol. These salts of fatty acid are called soap
and alkalis usually used are sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH). This
alkali hydrolysis of fats and oil (esters) to yield soap (salt of fatty acids) is called saponification
(Ababio, 2004).

Animal fats or vegetable oils are steam heated with sodium potassium hydroxide until
saponification is completed. Concentrated sodium chloride solution is completed sodium
chloride solution is added to decrease the alkalinity of the salts so that soaps separate out as a
hard cake on the surface on cooling. This is known as sating out Voma, 2000).

CH3(CH2)16COOCH2

│ CH2OH

CH3(CH2)16COOCH2 +3CH3(CH2)16COOK+ CH2OH

│ CH2OH

CH3(CH2)16COOCH2

When potassium hydroxide (KOH) is used in the saponification the soap obtained is soft soap
while when sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is used in the saponification the soap obtained is hard
soap. Most toilet soaps are soft soap while washing soaps are hard soap (Ababio, 2004).

Oil or fat + caustic alkali → Soap + Propan-1,2,3-triol

R COOCH2RCOOK+ HO-CH2
+
RCOOCH + 3KOH → RCOOK HO-CH2
Where R’, R,” and R,” al or alkali group. According to store, and Philips, (1971) each molecules
of soap possesses a long hydrocarbon chain R attached to on ionic head which is either COO-
Na+ or COO-K+ the hydrocarbon tail is hydrophobic (insoluble in water but soluble in oil and
organic solvents) the ionic head is hydrophilic (soluble in water).

Soap + propane 1, 2, 3 trio I

CR3(Cj- I 6COOC
3(CH2)I6COoCH2 + 3KOH 3C11CH12 I6COOK
CH3(CH2)16COOC2 (I3ase) potassium Soap Potassium Octadecanoate Propane I, 2, 3 triyl
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 Academic Publications and Research Association of Nigeria (APRAN) Volume 6.No. 1 September, 2012 PP 73-84

Trioctadecanoate

Propane 1, 2, 3 - triol hydrocarbon tail is hydrophobic (insoluble in water but soluble in oil and
organic solvents) the ionic head is hydrophilic (soluble in water).

The reaction of an ester with a base to form an alcohol and salt of the acid is a type of hydrolysis
historically called saponification. Ordinary household soaps are thus made from natural fat and
oils of plants of animal origin (Fanta,1976).

Foaming Of Soap

It is traditionally viewed that high foaming is synonymous with a good cleaning. This is true for
soap powders which were the only fabric washing powders available before the advent of
synthetic surfactants. It is still held by people in some areas particularly where manual washing
and top loading washing machine are used to a significant extends. For products based on
synthetic surfactants no such correlation exists and it is possible to formulate products with
goods detergents properties to give almost any desire foam levels.

With the increasing incidence of automatic washing machines, most of which will not
tolerate high sudsing products (owing to overflow of foam) and in which the washing operation
is totally enclosed so that the foam level is not seen, low sudsing ; product are becoming more
and more important. High Sudsing is usually achieved by anionic surfactants in a combination
with a latter booster such as the ethanolamide or amide oxide.
n-C11H23 CON HCH2 CH2OH n-C12H25 r (CH3)2.

0
An ethanolamide an amine oxide

Low-sudsing is achieved by using a ternary mixture of anionic surfactant, soap and non-ionic
surfactants.

Foam-Forming Activity
A known quantity of soap say 1.0g was shaken in a graduated test tube (with stopper) using a
vortex mixer. The foam height was observed after 1 minutes and the time taken by the foam to
disappear completely and it was measured (0’Dell, et al. 1959).

Matter Insoluble in Ethanol

A sample of soap was strewed and weighted out 5.Og of the soap sample in a 250ml. beaker.
And 1 50rn1 vol. of Absolute ethanol was added in to 250m1 beaker and the sample was heated
to dissolve. Dry filter paper was folded and it was put in an oven at 1050 C For 30mins. The
filter paper weighted as (Wi) and recorded. The dissolved soap was washed down in the 500m1.
conical flask for 3 times respectively. The soap was allowed to filter through and it was then
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 Academic Publications and Research Association of Nigeria (APRAN) Volume 6.No. 1 September, 2012 PP 73-84

dried in oven for another 10 minutes. The filter was reweighted and recorded as (W2) and result
was obtained.

Calculation

Cal==.W2—wIxl00 = %MIJE
5g

Results

The qualitative analyses of some soap were carried out using various parameters, sixteen
soaps were analyzed out of which ten were toilet soap and six were laundry soap. The results
obtained were presented below.

4.1 Foam Foaming Activities

Foaming Height
Foaming height was carried out using the method (0’ DelI, et al. 1959).

S/N NAME INITIAL FOAM HEIGHT (MM) FINAL FOAM HEIGHT (MM)

1 Eva 78.00 10.00

2 Hala 68. 00 03. 00

3 Needz 67.00 15.00

4 Joy 60.00 04.00

5 Septol - 68. 00 04. 00

6 Lux 72.00 25.00

7 Olive 75.00 05.00

8 Imperial 73.00 05.00

9 Carex 74.00 07.00

10 Zee 80.00 12.00

Table 2: Showing the result of foaming activities of laundry soap

1 Tempo 65.00 02.00
2 Canoe 73.00 10.00

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 Academic Publications and Research Association of Nigeria (APRAN) Volume 6.No. 1 September, 2012 PP 73-84

3 Bubble 82.00 13.00

4 Kitchen 72.00 00.00

5 Sultan 69.00 13.00

6 Zip 67.00 15.00

Foaming Time

The foaming time was carried out by subtracting the initial time from final time, i.e. when the
foam had completely disappeared, the result was tabulated below.

Table 3: Showing the result of foaming time for toilet soap

S/N SOAP FOAMING TIME (HOUR)

1 Eva 9.28

2 Hala 3.34

3 Needz 13.17

4 Joy 03.51

5 Septol 03.51

6 Lux 22.35

7 Olive 04.39

8 Imperial 04.39

9 Carex 06.15

10 Zee 10.54

Table 4: Showing the result of foaming activities for laundry soap

S/N SOAP FOAMING TIME (HOUR)

1 Tempo 1.756

2 Canoe 9.12

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 Academic Publications and Research Association of Nigeria (APRAN) Volume 6.No. 1 September, 2012 PP 73-84

3 Bubble 11.41

4 Kitchen 0.600

5 Sultan 11.41

6 Zip 13.17

Hardness of Soap

The hardness of the selected soaps was carried out using a rebound Hammer model EL: 35-1480,
made by EL-International London. The result was represented below:

Table 5: Toilet soap hardness (Nmm2)

S/N SOAP TYPE SIDE A B C AVERAGE

1 Eva 09.O 09.O 08.O 8.67

2 Hala 11.0 10.0 11.0 10.67

3 Needz 17.0 16.0 14.0 15.67

4 Joy 14.5 16.0 15.0 15.17

5 Septol 11.0 08.0 10.0 10.00

6 Lux 12.0 08.0 10.0 10.00

7 Olive 05.0 05.0 05.0 5.00

8 Imperial 05.0 10.0 08.0 7.67

9 Carex 05.0 05.0 07.0 5.67

10 Zee 0.10 0.10 0.10 10.00

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 Academic Publications and Research Association of Nigeria (APRAN) Volume 6.No. 1 September, 2012 PP 73-84

Table 6: Laundry Soap hardness (Nmm2)

S/N NAME A B C

1 Tempo 09.9 09.0 05.0 7.67

2 Canoe 09.0 09.0 06.0 8.00

3 Bubble 10.0 14.0 16.0 13.33

4 Kitchen 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.00

5 Sultan 04.0 09.0 04.0 5.67

6 Zip 02.0 02.0 02.0 2.00

Matter Insoluble in Ethanol

The presence and qualitative determination of matter insoluble in ethanol was carried out to
know especially the insoluble matter that may smear the surface of the skin when bathing with
the selected soap, the result of matter insoluble in ethanol was presented below as Percentage of
total matter

Table 7: showing the percentage matter insoluble in ethanol.

S/N SOAP TYPE % MIIE DEGREE

1 Eva 16.20 34.84

2 Hala 50.00 107.53

3 Needz 09.40 20.21

4 Joy 12.00 25.80

5 Septol 10.20 21.93

6 Lux 10.20 21.93

7 Olive 22.00 47.31

8 Imperial 15.20 32.68

9 Carex 07.20 15.68

10 Zee 15.00 32.25

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 Academic Publications and Research Association of Nigeria (APRAN) Volume 6.No. 1 September, 2012 PP 73-84

Total = 359.69 Approximately = 360

34.84

Hala
Needz
Joy
Septol
Lux
Olive
Imperial
Carex
Zee

Fig. 2. Pie chart showing the relative quantity of matter insoluble in ethanol (MIIE) of
individual toilet soap.

Discussion

From the result obtain from the qualitative analysis of some Soap Using various parameters like
form height, foam time, hardness and matter insoluble in ethanol, it was found out that in table 1
of the result, obtained from ten different toilet soap, Lux has the highest final foaming height
followed by Needz and Zee. The lowest foaming height was found in Hala with 03.00mm,
followed by Joy and Septol with 04.00mm and 04.00mm respectively.

In table 2, using six different laundry soap, the highest foam height was Obtained in Zip with
15mm, followed by bubble and Sultan with l3mrn and 13mm respectively The least final foam
height was found in tempo with 00.00mm.

Also in table 3 of the qualitative analysis of ten different toilet soap under 24 hours duration, was
carried out and it was found out that the highest foam time was obtained in Lux with 22.35
followed by Needz and obtained in Zip.

Zee with 13.17 hours and 10.54 hours respectively, and in the Laundry soap Zip had the highest
foaming time of 13.17 hours followed by bubble and Sultan with 11.41 hours and 11.41 hours
respectively.

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 Academic Publications and Research Association of Nigeria (APRAN) Volume 6.No. 1 September, 2012 PP 73-84

Also in table 5, the hardness of the soap were also determined using the rebound hammer model
EL: 35-1480, the result obtained with 10 different toilet soaps shown that Needz and Joy had the
highest hardness of 15.67Nmm2 and 15.17Nmm2 respectively, followed by Hala, Septol, Lux
and Zee. The least hardness was found in Olive with hardness of 5.00Nmm2 followed by Carex
and Eva with hardness of 5.67Nmm2 and 8.67 Nmm2 respectively. In the case of laundry soap
using the same method, the highest hardness was found in bubble with a value of 13.33Nmm2
followed by Kitchen with hardness of 10.OONmm2 while the least hardness was the table 7 of
the qualitative analysis the percentage of matter insoluble in ethanol of the various toilet soaps
were also determined. The result showed that Hala had the highest percentage matter insoluble in
ethanol of 50% followed by Olive, Imperial and Zee with percentage of 22%, 15% and 15%
respectively. The least percentage of matter insoluble in ethanol was obtained in Carex with a
percentage of 7.20%, followed by Needs with 9.40%. The percentage result of the quantity of the
matter insoluble in ethanol of the various toilet soap, was plotted using a pie chart. This is shown
in fig. 1 above.

Conclusion

From the discussion and the result obtained from various and laundry soap, it was discovered
that some soap had very high foaming activities than the others. The foaming activity of soap is
indirect measurement of the quality and strength of that soap without artificial foaming agents.
Also in terms of hardness of soap, it was found that some soap are harder than others and these
hardness correlates with solubility of soap activities while in use. Finally in the case of matter
insoluble in ethanol some soap has high quality than others do have. Those that contain highest
insoluble matter in it have lower cleaning activities than those soap lowest insoluble matter in it
lather very well and also clean better than those with high quantities of insoluble matter in it.

Recommendation

• The foaming capacity is not direct measurement for quality of soap, therefore, cleaning
capacity should be investigated and there will help us to determine the quality of a soap.

• Soap manufacture are there by warn to stop putting excess foaming agent in a soap•

Matter insoluble in ethanol determines the inorganic material present in soap, hence non-soap
particle should be added in moderation.

• Hardness of a soap determine quality of a soap in case of steering and wearing in solution,
thereby most of soap that are very hard and highly recommended to people.

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 Academic Publications and Research Association of Nigeria (APRAN) Volume 6.No. 1 September, 2012 PP 73-84

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