CHARACTERIZATION OF SOAPS PRODUCED FROM PALM OIL-PALM KERNEL OIL MIXTURE WITH AGRICULTURAL WASTE ASII-DERIVED ALKALI

The research involved the use of agricultural wastes such as Palm Bunch Wastes (PBW), Cassava Peels (CP), Benne Seed Dust (BSD) and Mango Seed Pods (MSP) ash-derived alkali as well as KOH with Palm oil-Palm kernel oil to produced soap. The soaps produced were examined. The physicochemical properties of the soaps were carried out based on the following parameters: Foamability, Foam Stability, Moisture, Total Fatty Matter, Free Caustic Alkali and Alcohol Insoluble Matter. The results obtained indicate that ail soaps produced had very good foam/leathering quality and very stable foam. The moisture content ranged between 9.OS- 16.72%, total fatty matter values were 62.07, 67.60, 60.55, 54.04 and 84.09% for PBW, CP, BSD, MSP and KOH respectively, this complied with the standard specified by the Nigeria Industrial Standard (NIS).The free caustic alkali for PBW, CP, BSD, MSP and commercial alkali were 0.05, 0.06, 0.04, 0.04 and 0.03 respectively. Soap produced using ash-derived alkali from agricultural wastes had higher alcohol insoluble matter than 10% specified by Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON). The higher amount of alcohol insoluble matter may be largely attributed to the level of impurity and crude nature of the alkali from the agricultural wastes used in the soap production. The soap impurities can be removed or reduced by the purification of soap.