PRODUCTION OF SOAP FROM PLAINTAIN PEEL

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 Nowadays the clay ovens have been replaced by well automated electrical ovens and the clay pots replaced with vats and reactors.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.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
This study is significant because it help to minimize agricultural waste instead of them becoming an environmental pollutant. The extract of slum hydroxide produce black soap from agricultural waste e.g tam peel, cocoa pods, helps in the cleaning up of the environment of cultural waste. Another significance of this study is that producing soap from agricultural waste extract is cheaper and highly economical.