PRODUCTION OF SOAPLESS DETERGENT USING LOCAL AVAILABLE WASTE PALM OIL
Abstract
This study investigates the production of soapless detergents using locally available oils waste cooking oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil, and red (palm) oil to provide a sustainable alternative to imported petroleum-based detergents. The oils were collected, pre-treated, and characterized for acid, saponification, iodine, and peroxide values before converting them into surfactants through sulfonation and ethoxylation. These surfactants were formulated with sodium carbonate, sodium sulfate, and water to produce detergent samples tested for pH, foam stability, viscosity, surface tension, and cleaning efficiency. Waste cooking oil showed moderate degradation but remained suitable for detergent production. Fatty acid analysis revealed medium-chain dominance in palm kernel and coconut oils, and long-chain dominance in waste and red oils. The formulated detergents exhibited pH 10.09, foam height from 200.5 to 90.5 mL over 30 minutes, and viscosity near 600 cP, comparable to commercial products. Overall, the results demonstrate that renewable local oils particularly waste cooking oil can yield effective, biodegradable soapless detergents, offering environmental and economic advantages aligned with sustainable development goals.
Full-Text Access Notice
In accordance with the NERD Policy on promoting peer-reviewed publication, public access to the full text of a project, thesis or dissertation is restricted for three years, allowing the author and supervisors sufficient time to pursue peer-reviewed publication.
During this period, researchers with legitimate academic or research purposes may request authorisation directly from the author to enable NERD to release the indexed full texts of the work using the form below.