PRODUCTION OF BLACK SOAP USING PLANTAIN PEELS AS SOURCE OF ALKALI

ABSTRACT
This project work deals with the production of black soap from the water extract of plantain peels ashes, water and palm kernel oil cooked together. All the factors that could cause blackness in the colour of the soap when the water extract of ash derived from vegetable mater was reacted with palm kernel oil blend were studied with the view to remedying them. This remedial procedure involves subjecting the dried plantain peels mater to total combustion, soaking, filtering and recrystallizing the ash-residue to obtain a blackish colour filtrate and pure extract of the alkali. The filtrate was blackish in colour and evaporated almost dryness by heating. Palm kernel was gradual charged into the pot and stirred until the mixture became thickened; the soap made from plantain peels ash was found out to have a good foaming ability and was rough in nature.

BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Before the introduction of refined bathing soap to Africa, the use of traditional African black soap was employed. African black soap also known as Anago soap or Alata soap in Ghana or as Osedudu in Nigeria originates from West Africa and has over the years spread through the whole of Africa. [1]The production of black soap with different ingredients in different parts of West Africa causes its slight difference in qualities in various locations in West Africa. [1]

Traditional African black soap is a brownish black coloured soap, the soap is soft and it has an organic shape. Black soap is great it is 100% natural. It has a delicate, texture and a natural earthy smell. It contains no animal fats, chemicals, colour, enhances, preservatives and fragrances Africa black soap is not oily or scented. [2]
Black soap is soil and has its main ingredient as potassium based alkali, it has a pH value between 7 and 8, this pH phenolic compound e.g. phenol, cresol, xylenol that are obtained from lignin in the plant materials in its production is attributed to their medicated and antiseptic equalities. African black soap is anatural source of vitamin A & E and iron. Black soap is formed at about 3000C.

Black soap in the past is produced by a local process which involves drying and burning of the peel in a clay oven, soaking the plantain peel ash in water in a clay pot and the soap making also takes places on an outdoor fire in a clay pot. Nowadays the clay ovens have been replaced by well automated electrical ovens and the clay pots replaced with vats and reactors. Unlike before, chemicals like preservations, hardener and fragrances are now also used in the production of black soap. [3]

1.2 AIM AND OBJECTIVE OF STUDY
The aim and objective of study is to produce a black soap from potassium hydroxide gotten from the water extract of plantain peel ashes. The brownish black colour of the potassium hydroxide extract gives the soap its brownish black colour.

1.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of study is limited to the production of African black soap from the potassium hydroxide extract gotten from plantain peel ashes, palm oil and water cooked together. In some recipes coca pod is used instead of plantain skin and in some both cocoa pod ashes and plantain skin ashes are mixed together for the production of black soap.