ABSTRACT

The recovery of glycerine from spent soap lye has been done using soap lye samples obtained from the hot process of soap production using palm kernel oil (P.K.O). The main advantage of hot process is that exact concentration of the lye solution is not known, but to perform this with adequate success, the lye and fat are boiled together at 80 – 1000C at times above 1000C until saponification occurs. The overall weight of glycerine recovered per 100g of oil used was 9.0g. The quantity of spent soap lye obtained was 250ml, Acid value was 555.39, percentage free acid value was 5.6%, total fatty acid = 7.131, percentage free caustic acid = 0.14%, percentage free  fatty acid obtained was 0.07131%, the specific gravity was 1.059, purity of glycerine was 92%. These parameters obtained were measured relatively to international standards with negligible error due to the type of equipment used. From the result, it is evident that the amount of glycerine recovered depends largely on the quantity of spent soap lye. Other processes the spend soap lye and the glycerine undergo as may be seen in other chapters includes, salting out, filtration, splitting and others. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page                                                                        i

Letter of Transmittal                                                      ii

Approval page/certification                                            iii

Approval page                                                                 iv

Dedication                                                                       v

Acknowledgement                                                           vi

Abstract                                                                          vii

Table of Contents                                                            viii

List of Figures/Tables                                                    xii

Definition of Terms/Nomenclature                                        xiii

CHAPTER ONE    

1.0      Introduction                                                          1

1.1 Background of the study                                          1

1.2 Statement of the problem                                         4

1.3 Scope and limitation of the study                            6

1.4 Purpose/aim/objectives of the study                       6

1.5 Method of Research                                                  7

1.6 Significance of the study                                          8

CHAPTER TWO

2.0              Literature Review                                           10

2.01          History of glycerine                                         13

2.02          Lye clarification                                              16

2.03          Recovery of glycerine from spent lye              25

2.04          Twitchel process                                             38

2.05          Autoclave saponification                                48

2.06          Lime saponification                                         49

2.07          Acid saponification                                 52

2.08          Aqueous saponifictaion                                  54

2.09          Splitting fats with ferments                            55

2.10          Krebitz porcess                                               59

2.11          Distillation of fatty acids                                62

2.12          Glycerol detection and estimation                 66

2.13          Glycerine as a by-product of soap

manufacture                                                    75

2.14          Process description of soap production 78

2.15          Process summary                                            79

2.16          Step 1:     oil preparation                                79

2.17          Ion exchange                                                  81

2.18          Soap removal                                                  82

2.19          Composition of glycerine production              83

2.20          Physical properties of glycerine                      87

2.21          Chemical properties of glycerine                    88

2.22          Sources and types of lipids                             90

2.23          Distinction between fats and oils                   91

2.24          Uses of glycerine                                             93

2.25          Major types of saponification                          95

2.26          Separation of glycerine and free fatty acid    99

2.27          Quantifying the phosphoric acid to be used 100

2.28          Metabolism                                                     102

2.29          Application of glycerine in food                      103

2.30          Application of glycerine in urethane polymers 104

2.31            Application of glycerine in drugs and cosmetics 104

2.32          Application of glycerine as a lubricant.          106

2.33          Application of glycerine in snuffs                   106

2.34          Other uses of glycerine                                   107

2.35          Hyper osmotic effects                                      108

2.36          Basic raw material for flycerine production.  108

CHAPTER THREE

3.0      Experimental Procedure                                         111

3.01 The Saponification Process                                     112

3.02 Splitting Method                                                     115

3.03 Determination of the viscosity of Glycerine           116

3.04 Titration                                                                  117

3.05 Percentage Free Alkaline (FCA)                             118

3.06 Bleaching of Crude Glycerine                                119

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0      Experimental Result and Analysis                         121

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0      Discussion                                                              128

5.1 Conclusion                                                                128

5.2 Recommendation                                                      129

References                                                              131

Appendices                                                              132

LIST OF FIGURES/TABLE

Table 2.0:        Properties of glycerine                            87

Table 2.1:        Physical properties of glycerine              86

Table 4A:         Glycerine producer association standard for Glycerine recovery                                  121

Table 4B:         Estimation consumption of glycerol in various industries                                    122

Table 4C:         Order of increment of the amount of % glycerine in all the samples.                  124

Table 4D:         Standard deviation table for percentage (%) salt and percentage glycerine              127

DEFINITION OF TERM/NOMENCLATURE

%     =      Percentage

N/4  =      Quarter normal

Lbs  =      Pounds

C.C  =      Cubic centimeter

PZ    =      Paterson Zochonis

IEA  =      International Equitable Association

KSI  =