Soap and Detergent Manufacture NZ Institute of Chemistry
THE SOAP MANUFACTURING PROCESS The essence of soap production is the saponification reaction: CH2 CH CH2 OC O R OC O R OC O Rquot; + 3NaOH CH2 CH CH2 OH OH OH + Na+O C O R Na+O C O R Na+O C O Rquot; a triglceride caustic soda glycerine metal soap This reaction is exothermic, and progresses quickly and efficiently at around 125oC inside an autoclave type reactor.