B.I. Material and equipment for preparation

B.I. MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT FOR PREPARATION

B.I.1. Boiler

B.I.1.1 Boiler for pre-treatment of fats

A cone mounted with a cylinder would be the ideal shape for the boiler but the simple cylinder is also appropriate if it has a sufficient height. Two tapes at least should also be placed at different levels, one at the bottom in order to easily eliminate the impurities.

The material to be poured for confection should stand fire a lasting period .

Figure 1 represents the sketch plan of a boiler for pretreatment.

Fig. 1 : BOILER FOR FAT RAFFINATION

B.I.1.2 Boiler for saponification

Any wide opening container standing direct contact with heating fire and made out material supporting alkaline, can be used as a boiler for saponification.

In the practice, iron is the material indicated for developing countries. The pottery containers would also be appropriate if they were less fragile. They are nevertheless used sometimes in traditional soap making at home level.

The boiler may have various shapes. Though the classical shape, reducing at a minimum the risk of over pouring during the heating is a combination of an half cone with a out flow device at the bottom and a cylinder. This shape can easily be integrated in a direct heating stove.

Figure 2 represents the sketch plan of such a boiler designed at the TCC (Technology Consultancy Center) at Kumasi, GHANA.

Simple cylinder shape boilers are also appropriate.

The quantity (mass) of soap to be made by charge in a boiler varies from 1/3 to 1/2 of the boiler volume.

For the small loads (up to about 500 l) mixing may be done with a stick. For more important quantities, a mechanic mixing equipment is highly recommended.

Figure 3 shows the sketch plan of such an equipment.

Fig. 2 : BOILER FOR SAPONIFICATION, TYPE TCC

Fig. 3 : BOILER FOR SAPONIFICATION WITH MIXTURE ELEMENT

B.I.2 Container for the alkaline solution

Alkaline solution should be prepared in wide-opening containers, constructed in material resistent to alkaline. An empty barrel for instance would be well appropriate. For storage, hermetic containers are necessary.

B.I.3. Balance and densimeter

These two measuring instruments enable the determination of the quantities of raw materials entering in the preparation of soap.

The appropriate scale for traditional soap-making should be able to weigh at least 100 Kg during a single operation. Various models filling this fundamental condition are available on the market.

The Baume aerometer (or densimeter) enables the determination of the density of a liquid. It is also available on the market as industrially manufactured product. In case of unavailability you may refer to the solution which consists in putting one (1) egg or one(1) potato in the alkaline solution.

As the sketch indicates, when these objects float just at the surface, the solution has for instance an intake of 180 g of pure soda (NaOH) for each Kg (18%).