COCOA POD HUSK AND PALM KERNEL OIL

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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