Definition of SAP value

[whitetulips]

Everyone uses a lot of abbreviations here on Soap Forum. I'm learning them, but someone asked me my SAP value for a recipe I used. I would've asked the person asking, but didn't log back on for some time afterward and forgot to ask her. Just thought I'd ask someone today.:razz:

 

[green soap]

Saponification value = the number of milligrams of KOH (Potassium hydroxide) required to saponify 1 gram of fat.

Shorter fatty acid chains (think CO) have a higher saponification value because it takes more lye to saponify a given weight of the oil.

 

[new12soap]

Well, whaddya know. I learned something. There are different SAP values for KOH and NaOH, of course, but the ones for NaOH aren't charted. All SAP values are for KOH, and must be converted to NaOH. To convert KOH values to NaOH values, divide the KOH values by the ratio of the molecular weights of KOH and NaOH (1.403) (wikipedia - I know, it's not a valid source).

Btw, SAP values are all ranges or averages. Last year's crop of olive oil from spain will be slightly different than this year's crop from california, so lye calculators use an average. That's why you may get a slighty different result from one lye calculator to another, and also why at least a small SF is important.

 

[Lion Of Judah]

interesting question ..... because it would seem that they did not know what SAP was as well. SAP refers to the value number carrier oils has, which basically tells you the amount of potassium hydroxide [+ sodium hydroxide as well ] in milligrams required to saponify 1 gram of oil..
here is a sap chart that will help you to understand how sap relates to carrier oils and butters as well : http://www.herbal-howto-guide.com/SAP-value-chart.html
you will see that each oil carries two sap value; one to be used when working with potassium hydroxide , and the other to be used when working with sodium hydroxide. working with a good soap calculator will do all the conversions for you when formulation or checking your recipes.
so sap is not measured in overall recipes but in terms of each individual oil you use in that recipe.

 

[whitetulips]

New12 soap, what is SF? I've been using the Bramble Berry lye calculator because the other ones I've seen are so complex.

 

[Cherry Bomb]

Hello Whitetulips!!! SF is an acronym for superfat.

 

[Cherry Bomb]

I like this explanation link in case you do not understand superfatting. I am also sure someone can explain it to you on here as well

http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-b...cess-soap/superfatting-soap-an-explanation-2/

 

[whitetulips]

I get the superfatting thing and how to use the lye calculators. I learned that the hard way with my first batch of soap..yikes! I just couldn't think what SF was. I've watched The Soap Queen and Soaping 101 and lots of other videos. Great stuff! It's funny how every soaper does things a little different, which makes all soap different.