Difference between revisions of "Making bar soap from glycerol"

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'''A quick guide to making bar soap
+
<metadesc>Biodiesel soap, Glycerol soap, Glycerine soap, Soap from Biodiesel bi-product, Making soap</metadesc>
(based on a recipe from Chug)'''
+
<gallery caption="Variations on bar soap. Source: K.H" align="right" widths="300px" heights="200px" perrow="3">
 +
File:Lavenderandsoftsand.jpg|Lavender and soft sand.
 +
File:Oatmealandessence.jpg|Oatmeal and fragrance.
 +
File:Lavenderandredfooddye.jpg‎|Lavender and red food colouring.
 +
</gallery>
  
 +
A quick guide to making bar soap from glycerol.
  
 +
Recipes courtesy of [[User:Chug|Chug]].
  
 +
__TOC__
  
==Contents==  
+
==Ingredients==
 
   
 
   
 +
* 1 litre of demethed [[glycerol]]
 +
* Approx 80 ml of water
 +
* Approx 35 g of [[NaOH]]
  
Ingredients
+
You may have to play with these figures slightly to suit your glycerol, so test batches are recommended!
 
* 1 litre of demethed [[Glycerol]]
 
* Approx 80 ml of water
 
  
Approx 35 g of NaOH
+
==Method==
 +
[[File: Scoopingouttheglyc.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Scooping out set glycerol. Source: K.H]]
 +
[[File: Heatingglycandcaustic.jpg‎ |250px|thumb|right|Glycerol is heated with caustic. Source: K.H]]
 +
[[File: Newlypouredsoap.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Hot, liquid soap poured into mould to set. Source: K.H]]
 +
[[File: 7dayslatercutup.jpg|250px|thumb|right|After seven days, soap is turned out and cut to size. Source: K.H]]
  
You may have to play with these figures slightly to suit your glycerol,so test batches are recommended!
+
* Heat the water to 50°C and add the NaOH.
 +
* Stir until dissolved (do not breathe the fumes).
 +
* Add this mix to the glycerol and continue heating while stirring.
 +
* The mix will foam and froth then will start to thicken (now is the time to add any scents).
 +
* Allow the mix to cool slightly.
 +
* Pour the mix into your chosen mould and leave for 7 days to harden enough to be cut into squares. The soap will continue to harden over the next few weeks.
  
==Method==
+
You can add essential oils such as lavender to the mix to give a nice fragrance and you can also add chopped herbs to impart a scent.
  
Heat the water to 50 C and add the NaOH,stir until dissolved (do not breathe the fumes)
+
Adding silver sand, oatbran, bulger wheat etc to the mix makes a great exfoliating soap but you have to time the adding of it to perfection or it will sink to the bottom.
Add this mix to the glyc and continue heating while stirring the mix will foam and froth then will start to thicken (now is the time to add any scents)
 
Allow the mix to cool slightly
 
Pour the mix into your chosen mould and leave for 7 days to harden enough to be cut into squares
 
The soap will continue to harden over the next few weeks
 
You can add essential oils such as lavender to the mix to give a nice fragrance and you can also add chopped herbs to impart a scent
 
I have also found that adding silver sand to the mix makes a great exfoliating soap but you have to time the adding of the sand to perfection or it will sink to the bottom
 
  
 
==Moulds==
 
==Moulds==
  
For moulds you can use anything that will take a small amount of heat such as margarine tubs and recycling box lids and if you dont get caught muffin trays with the individual compartments are ideal!
+
For moulds you can use anything that will take a small amount of heat such as margarine tubs and recycling box lids.  If you don't think you will get caught, muffin trays with the individual compartments are ideal!
  
==Colouring and PH values==
+
==Colouring and pH values==
  
This soap will be an uninspiring muddy brown colour but i have found you can use small amounts of food colouring to alter it slightly but dont overdo it or you will end up with a soap that stains your hands
+
This soap will be an uninspiring muddy brown colour, but you can use small amounts of food colouring to alter it slightly.  Don't overdo it or you will end up with a soap that stains your hands.
  
Chug also uses the soaps from his settling tank to give a lighter coloured soap than that made from glyc.
+
Chug also uses the soaps from his settling tank to give a lighter coloured soap than that made from glycerol.
  
The finished soap should have a PH of between 9.5 – 10.5,you can test the soap with PH indicator strips
+
The finished soap should have a pH of between 9.5 – 10.5, which can be tested for with with pH indicator strips
at my last testing my soap was PH 10 which was ideal
+
but as it matures it may come down to around ph8.
The finished soap may sweat as it is hydroscopic just wipe the moisture away
+
Ive recently tried adding lemon juice and zest this being acidic it counteracts the caustic to give a milder soap of about pH7.
 +
 
 +
It may also sweat as it is hygroscopic - just wipe the moisture away.
  
 
==Liquid soap==
 
==Liquid soap==
  
To make a liquid soap use KOH instead of NaOH but you must use the same catalyst that you used to make the glycerol
+
To make a liquid soap use KOH instead of NaOH.  However, you must use the same catalyst that you used to make the glycerol.
This is a recipe for liquid soap made with KOH,but i hav,nt tried it out
 
1 litre of glycerin
 
500 - 800 ml water
 
40 g KOH
 
Add any essential oils before adding the water/KOH to the glyc
 
  
==Warning==
+
This is a recipe for liquid soap made with KOH:
  
Do not use an aluminium saucepan for making soap as the NaOH will react with it
+
* 1 litre of demethed glycerol
and if you intend demething your glycerol make sure you are aware of the dangers of methanol
+
* 250ml water
 +
* 40g KOH
  
 +
Add any essential oils before adding the water/KOH to the glycerol.  For less viscous liquid soap, add more than 250ml of water.
  
 +
==Warning==
  
 +
Do not use an aluminium saucepan for making soap as the NaOH will react with it.
 +
If you intend on demething your glycerol before making soap, make sure you are aware of the dangers of [[methanol]] vapour.
 
   
 
   
 +
==Further reading==
 +
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap#Purification_and_finishing
 +
* http://www.pioneerthinking.com/glycerin.html
  
See also
+
==See also==
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap#Purification_and_finishing
 
 
 
External links
 
http://www.pioneerthinking.com/glycerin.html
 
 
 
 
 
  
 +
* [[MSDS - Glycerol ]]
 +
* [[MSDS - Potassium Hydroxide ]]
 +
* [[MSDS - Sodium Hydroxide ]]
  
 
[[User:KH|KH]] 22:22, 5 December 2010 (UTC)
 
[[User:KH|KH]] 22:22, 5 December 2010 (UTC)
 +
 
[[Category:Biodiesel]]
 
[[Category:Biodiesel]]
 +
[[Category:Miscellaneous]]

Latest revision as of 12:25, 10 March 2013

A quick guide to making bar soap from glycerol.

Recipes courtesy of Chug.

Ingredients

  • 1 litre of demethed glycerol
  • Approx 80 ml of water
  • Approx 35 g of NaOH

You may have to play with these figures slightly to suit your glycerol, so test batches are recommended!

Method

Scooping out set glycerol. Source: K.H
Glycerol is heated with caustic. Source: K.H
Hot, liquid soap poured into mould to set. Source: K.H
After seven days, soap is turned out and cut to size. Source: K.H
  • Heat the water to 50°C and add the NaOH.
  • Stir until dissolved (do not breathe the fumes).
  • Add this mix to the glycerol and continue heating while stirring.
  • The mix will foam and froth then will start to thicken (now is the time to add any scents).
  • Allow the mix to cool slightly.
  • Pour the mix into your chosen mould and leave for 7 days to harden enough to be cut into squares. The soap will continue to harden over the next few weeks.

You can add essential oils such as lavender to the mix to give a nice fragrance and you can also add chopped herbs to impart a scent.

Adding silver sand, oatbran, bulger wheat etc to the mix makes a great exfoliating soap but you have to time the adding of it to perfection or it will sink to the bottom.

Moulds

For moulds you can use anything that will take a small amount of heat such as margarine tubs and recycling box lids. If you don't think you will get caught, muffin trays with the individual compartments are ideal!

Colouring and pH values

This soap will be an uninspiring muddy brown colour, but you can use small amounts of food colouring to alter it slightly. Don't overdo it or you will end up with a soap that stains your hands.

Chug also uses the soaps from his settling tank to give a lighter coloured soap than that made from glycerol.

The finished soap should have a pH of between 9.5 – 10.5, which can be tested for with with pH indicator strips but as it matures it may come down to around ph8. Ive recently tried adding lemon juice and zest this being acidic it counteracts the caustic to give a milder soap of about pH7.

It may also sweat as it is hygroscopic - just wipe the moisture away.

Liquid soap

To make a liquid soap use KOH instead of NaOH. However, you must use the same catalyst that you used to make the glycerol.

This is a recipe for liquid soap made with KOH:

  • 1 litre of demethed glycerol
  • 250ml water
  • 40g KOH

Add any essential oils before adding the water/KOH to the glycerol. For less viscous liquid soap, add more than 250ml of water.

Warning

Do not use an aluminium saucepan for making soap as the NaOH will react with it. If you intend on demething your glycerol before making soap, make sure you are aware of the dangers of methanol vapour.

Further reading

See also

KH 22:22, 5 December 2010 (UTC)