Chemical reaction involved

The reaction involved in our production of Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis scented shower cream is
through a saponification reaction. Saponification is the process of making soap molecules
from the chemical reaction in which fatty esters such as fats and oils, are hydrolysed in basic
conditions. The reaction usually requires fats and lye (Schumann & Siekmann, 2000). This
process converts fats and oils, via a basic reaction medium, to salts of these fatty acids
(Nsb.wikidot.com, 2015).
General Form

glyceryl tristearate + sodium hydroxide -> glycerol + sodium stearate

Stoichiometry of equation
(C18H35O2)3C3H5 + 3 NaOH C3H5(OH)3 + 3 C18H35O2Na
Equilibrium (Thermodynamic) controlled or kinetic controlled
The reaction is an equilibrium controlled reaction. Equilibrium controlled reaction exhibits
two particular requirements which are reversible and requires heat. When two or
more reversible reactions of the same reactants compete under a given set of conditions, the
system is said to be under thermodynamic control, and the major product is the more stable
product, which is called the thermodynamic product (Science.uvu.edu, 2015). In
saponification, the reversible reaction of saponification is esterification. The temperature for
the reaction to occur is between 40oC to 80oC.
Catalysts used
There are no catalysts used in the reaction. However, there are suggestions that thymol or
some other oils do speed up the reaction.
Use of excess reactants to increase yield at equilibrium
The use of high concentration alkali and oils that have high free fatty acids in saponification
will speed up the process.
Issue on competing reaction and selectivity
Temperature and pH
Single pass conversion
Single-pass conversion gives the fraction of reactant converted on a single pass through the
reactor. In contrast, overall conversion gives the fraction of reactant converted by the process,
which may involve recycling reactant molecules many times through the reactor in order to
increase their conversion.

Thymol added for anti-bacterial purposes

The addition of scents, such as essential oils, to the soap mixture may affect the
saponification process. Some oils inhibit the saponification process whereas others speed up
the process.

How to increase speed of soap making is that the speed of the reaction between the oil and
the caustic soda is influenced by free fatty acid content of the oil, the heat of the components
before mixing, and how vigorously the mixing is to be done. Free fatty acid contents,
vigorous mixing, and heat, speed up the given soap-making process.

RED NEEDS REFERENCING

GREEN IS OKAY
BLUE MAYBE IMPORTANT

References
1. Schumann, K., & Siekmann, K. (2000). Soaps. Ullmann's Encyclopedia Of Industrial
Chemistry. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14356007.a24_247
2. Nsb.wikidot.com,. (2015). Saponification - Nsb Notes. Retrieved 10 October 2015, from
http://nsb.wikidot.com/c-9-5-5-1
3.