PALM KERNEL OIL

This study focuses on investigating the physiochemical properties of soap derived from blends of palm kernel and palm oil. The oils underwent an initial analysis to determine their saponification and acid values using established methods. Subsequently, the oils were mixed in various ratios: palm kernel to palm oil (100:0, 0:100, 50:50, 70:30, and 30:70). Each blend was used to produce soap using the hot method approach, followed by the analysis of the resulting soaps for moisture content, pH, hardness, harshness, cleaning properties, and foam ability. The results indicated the saponification and acid values for palm kernel oil were 283.305 mgKOH/g and 4.488 mgKOH/g,
respectively, while for palm oil, they were 221.595 mgKOH/g and 6.732 mgKOH/g, respectively.
The moisture content, pH, hardness, cleaning properties, and formability of the various blends
were as follows: moisture content (35%, 33.5%, 36%, 39.5%, 30.5%), pH(8.95, 8.57, 8.81, 8.99,
9.34), hardness 4.0, 2.8, 3.6, 3.8, 3.4 cm, harshness (all soaps were mild and gentle to the skin
and hands), cleaning property (more effective, effective, more effective, more effective, most
effective), and formability 7.3, 11.4, 12.6, 9.8, and 13.3 cm, respectively. The results demonstrate that soap produced from the 30:70 blend exhibited superior physiochemical and functional properties. Consequently, it is recommended that this particular oil blend be employed
for soap production with sodium hydroxide using the hot method.