E.U IKHUORIA

Production of African Black soap using cocoa pod husk ash (alkali base) and palm kernel oil is essentially crude soap obtained from the process of Saponification. The cocoa pud husk were carbonized (burnt to ashes ) and the Alkali was extracted from it by dissolving in water and later filtered. The suitability of the Cocoa Pod husk ash as an alkali source for soap production was evaluated, the Alkali extracted was made to react with hot palm kernel oil and the resultant mixture is the African Black soap. The soap formed was analysed. The values of the pH test, foamability test and Lather volume analysed were 9.0, 300ml and 6.33 minutes. The analysis however has revealed that the African black soap can compete favourably with other toilet soaps in the market and can also be improved on. So therefore, using cocoa pod husk for the production of the African black soap, can be modelled to preserve this age-old craft and guarantee that future generations continue to use the traditional methods of creating soap which serve as job opportunities for local and modern communities and women's cooperatives.
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In this research study, the preparation of Calcium oxide (CaO) nanoparticles (NPs) from Trichosanthes cucumerina seeds was reported to be synthesized by precipitation method using CaCl2 and NaOH as starting materials.The gradual change of the particles from pale yellow to a white precipitate indicated the formation of CaO nanoparticles The synthesized nanoparticle was subjected to characterization using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS).The Phytochemical analysis of the CaO nanoparticles revealed that the aqueous extract was rich in phytochemicals as majority of the phytochemicals tested were positive which resulted in the rational support for the traditional use of T. cucumerina to cure wounds. T. cucumerina has antibacterial components that are effective against wound pathogens such as S. aureus, E. coli, B. cereus, K. pneumoniae, P. aeroginosa. The extracts displayed antibacterial activity against both gram (+) and gram (-) bacterial stain such as indicating the existence of a broad spectrum of antibacterial properties