Triglycéride + 3 OH⁻ → glycérol + 3 RCOO⁻Overall saponification scheme; the Na⁺ or K⁺ counterions are omitted.
Use when: Explanatory chemical principle, not manufacturing protocol; this workshop uses already saponified bases.
Soap formulation and plant management
Distinguish between soap, surfactant, formulation and management of an industrial batch.
What is happening?
A surfactant has a part having an affinity for water and a part having an affinity for fatty substances. This structure promotes wetting and dispersion of dirt; foam alone does not measure the full cleaning power.
A soap is a fatty acid salt. The workshop formulates already saponified bases or mixtures of surfactants; it tracks masses, stocks and packaging, without calculating a real pH from the recipe.
The formulas, with their conditions.
wᵢ = mᵢ / mlot ; Σ wᵢ = 1mᵢ and mlot: masses in the same unit; wᵢ: mass fraction.
Use when: Include water and all admixtures in the total.
Coût matières = Σ(mᵢ × prixᵢ)m to kg ; price in unit monétaire/kg.
Use when: Add separately energy, packaging, personnel and other charges for a full cost.
Where is this principle used?
Soap factory
Formulate liquid soaps and solid bars.
Detergent factory
Prepare liquid or powder mixtures and control batches.
What to observe in the experiment
Add a small mass of perfume: recalculate the percentage of each material and distinguish batch cost and cash flow.
References and readings
This sheet explains the principles and their assumptions. Educational simulation can simplify the process; an industrial model requires suitable data and validation.
Have you understood the essentials?
Only one correct answer per question. Answer all three questions, then view the answer key.
Intu Lab · Understanding sheet · Kimba Christian