Soap Making Using Glycerin from Biodiesel

[suirvale]

i forwarded to kenya,.,its far too complex,..

i am sure there must be simple methods,.,.

i will try and get them to make honey products,..

[suirvale]

hi,.,.yeh i go to kenya a lot and anted to start some simple projects for the less well off, bu this is too complex for underdeveloped farms areas,..thans mike

[nuclearboy2003]

@suirvale Ok, let me know if you have any questions. Basic soap formulas take lye, water, and a base like vegetable oil to make.

[suirvale]

NAW I BETTER  NOW ITIS FAR TOO COMPLEX FOR AFRICA,.

[suirvale]

i need help to start project liek this in kenya,any ideas appreciated,.,.

[nuclearboy2003]

@suirvale What exactly are you trying to do? I can try to help.

[starshock01]

you made this from biodiesel? i really dont think methanol in any form is good for a person...

[nuclearboy2003]

@starshock01 No methanol. It was distilled out of the glycerin mixture. I actually reused the methanol in the next batch of biodiesel that I made.

[budupayang]

@nuclearboy2003 hi..ur vdeo really help me a lot.but what is the purpose of adding NaOH solution into the glycerin?does the naOh act as catalyst?Before this, naOH had been added during glycerin formation?

[headybrew]

I don't understand. Glycerin is not what you need to make soap. You need the fatty acids that were once attached to the glycerin molecules. Lye is used to break those fatty acids away from the glycerin backbone and create fatty acid salts (aka soaps). The glycerin is then a byproduct which is removed in most commercial soaps. (just as it is a byproduct of biodiesel production.) How can you take a byproduct and create soap out of it?

[nuclearboy2003]

@headybrew The glycerin byproduct of biodiesel has a large amount of unreacted lye or potassium hydroxide already in the mixture, which is why this is possible.

[starshock01]

@headybrew glycerin is slightly acidic, sodium hydroxide is basic, mixed together they start saponification

[javierneptuno]

how do you test the methanol presence and how can I change the color to make it more clear, thanks

[nuclearboy2003]

@javierneptuno The best method to test for methanol is to use a flash tester, which was available at the University of Florida lab at the time. This is the most expensive method, so many people do not have access to a methanol flash tester. The next best method is to distill the methanol from the biodiesel. This is similar to making an ethanol distillation unit. The methanol contaminated glycerin needs to have the methanol evaporated. To get it clear, you can distill the glycerin as well.

[dougtanya]

What are the actual measurements for this process?

[funkyfox63]

Do you extract the methanol before you start making the soap?

[nuclearboy2003]

Yes, we extract all of the methanol in a methanol recovery system I built. The glycerin is then tested to make sure that there is not any methanol remaining.

[SS6727]

if u guys were ne kind of smart u would kno sprayin alcohol would get rid of the foam n bubbles

[broebling]

What percentage of lye and water did you use.

To diminish bubbles in mold, spray alcohol on the mixture in the pot pre pour and again post pour when soap is in mold

[spencnaz]

I take it you're using NaOH for the transesterfication of your biodiesel?

I saw solid soap, KOH will produce liquid soap due the shorter molecular chains.

[nuclearboy2003]

I am using NaOH in the biodiesel reaction in order to make solid bar soap. I have started using KOH in my biodiesel reactions to produce liquid soap. Hopefully I will have a video up soon showing how to make liquid handsoap using KOH.

[spencnaz]

Thanks for the quick reply. I use KOH in my biodiesel reaction for its rapidity and reduced risk of solidifying in the reactor tank if the reaction fails.

I have a KOH recipe and plan on making some soap here soon with the mounting glycerol supply I have here.

[nuclearboy2003]

I was using NaOH because it was cheaper and was producing hard soaps using the leftover glycerin. KOH is more expensive, but it does reduce the risk of solidifying in the reactor tank. I've had a few episodes with NaOH of solidification in my main tank.

I've seen a few KOH recipes online using the glycerin byproduct. Not sure which one I will use or if I will make my own recipe.

[tipitipitang]

So? How did it turn out? Success? Saponification? Spray the top with your cologne spray and those bubbles MIGHT go away.

Honestly, that is the weirdest process for soap making that I've seen. Awesome work, guys. I hope you have much success.

[nuclearboy2003]

Thanks for the comments. The soap formula turned out wonderful and our lye/glycerin soap formula hardened perfectly. We found that more gentle stirring eliminated the bubbles along with lightly spraying more of the cologne spray. The new experiments showed more success with using essential oils we created from our garden.