How much citric acid for this recipe?

[TeresaT]

The one time I used CA before, I ended up with soap soup and tossed the whole batch. Even after trying to rebatch, it was not salvageable. This time, I'm asking the pros. I love my soap. I do not love the scum it leaves in my shower. I superfat at 5% usually; however, one batch I SFd at 10%. I'm sure the scum left behind will be breathtaking on that one! Since I eventually want to sell soap when I retire in a few years, I want to reduce the scum as much as possible. This is my second experimenter batch. I don't want to waste this one, too, since it's going to be big and have colors/fragrance in it. I am going to add green clay to it as a colorant. Don't know if that matters with the CA or not. So, here's the recipe. (I'll probably use the Shea to dissolve the other colorants: TD, spirulina and maybe paprika.). I reduced the SF to 3% because of the CA; but, now I don't really know how much to put in. The CA I have is for canning. Does that matter? Thanks for your help.

 

[not_ally]

Teresa, I have tons of scum, too, and after exhaustive research, think EDTA is the best chelator/anti scum measure. Some people don't use EDTA b/c they think it is non-natural, also it is vilified for being an industrial pollutant, although I think the soapmaking usage has zero effect on the environment, so that doesn't bother me. If you are OK w/EDTA, post and we'll tell you how to mix it up. Actually, just check under "today's post" at the top of the page, there is an active thread which contains that info if you want it right away.

You have to jiggle lye amounts if using CA b/c the CA deactivates lye to some degree, I don't have the exact percentages at hand but can find the kind advice given to me on that and post it later if someone doesn't do it sooner. Don't use CA again before you have those numbers, though, you'll have soup again if you do.

 

[boyago]

From my notes which I think were from a post by Deeana are that CA will neutralize NaOH 1: .624 and KOH 1: .8. Meaning 1g of CA will react with .624g of NaOH. I think the usual rate for soap is 1-3% of your oil weight. Try an advanced search on Deeanna's posts or TEG's I know they both have explained how they do it.

 

[kumudini]

Teresa, I see you have about 2200gms oils in your recipe. I remember reading in one of DeeAnna's posts that you need 10 grams CA per 1000 grams oils, so you would need about 22 grams of citric acid and the additional lye to neutralize that and form sodium citrate to help with scum. You can calculate the additional lye using the conversion from boyago's post, comes to about 14 grams of additional lye.

 

[DeeAnna]

Here ya go:

CITRIC ACID in Soap

Typical dosage: 10 g citric acid for every 1,000 g oils (1% ppo). Range 0.1% to 3%.

Citric acid and Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) make Sodium citrate in soap
10 g citric acid neutralizes 6.24 g NaOH

Citric acid and Potassium hydroxide (KOH) make Potassium citrate in soap
10 g citric acid neutralizes 8.42 g KOH

Stir the citric acid into the water you will use to make your lye solution. Add the lye to the water and proceed with your recipe as usual.

***

And in case this one comes up, here's the related info:

SODIUM CITRATE or POTASSIUM CITRATE in soap

If dosage rate for citric acid is 1%, the equivalent dosage for sodium citrate is 1.3%
If dosage rate for citric acid is 1%, the equivalent dosage for potassium citrate is 1.6%

Do NOT add additional lye if you are using potassium or sodium citrate. Extra lye is only needed if you are using citric acid.

Stir the citrate into the water you will use to make your lye solution. Add the lye to the water and proceed with your recipe as usual.

 

[TeresaT]

OK. I was making this way too hard for myself. I had already "added" extra lye by reducing my superfat from 8% to 3% (304.98 gm to 321.56 gm) and was trying to figure it out that way. But, when I actually did the math and played with the numbers, I realized how difficult I was making it! I tried to reduce the SF so adding extra lye will give me the higher SF. (321.56-304.98=6.58 I only need 7.13 gm to make the difference in the 13.71 gm to get the 8% SF). But it doesn't matter as long as I replace the lye that the CA reacts with I'll be OK. In my case, I've got approximately 2200 gm oils. As long as I use 22 gm CA and an extra 14 gm lye, my SF can be anything I want it to be! (BTW: I read all of the previous posts about CA and EDTA as chelators today before I posted my question. Once again, I was overthinking and making everything way too difficult for myself.) Thanks everyone for your quick responses and total enlightenment.
Not_Ally, the only thing I have against EDTA is the fact that it is not on my shelf. I have got to order that stuff. I made a mistake and ordered Sodium Lactate instead. Now I'll have wonderfully hard scummy bars until I can get some EDTA. ;-) I do, however, have CA in my pantry. Maybe I'll wait for the EDTA for the big mold and just try the CA in the small mold. (But I want to try out my new mold now... It's made from a beehive tray.)

 

[Dahila]

From the time Deeanna gave us the calculation I use CA and I do not see any difference in trace, I dissolve it in water before adding lye and forget about it. It does cut the scum , definitely it does.

 

[cmzaha]

I make my citric acid into a 50/50 solution, because I do not like dissolving my CA in the lye. For this amount of oils I would use 45 grams of CA or 90 grams of 50/50 CA and 28 grams of additional lye

 

[DeeAnna]

So, Carolyn, it looks like you're using a 2% ppo dosage. Do you remember why you ended up with that amount? I'm curious to know because this question comes up a lot and it's good to know the reasoning and experience behind people's choices.

 

[cmzaha]

So, Carolyn, it looks like you're using a 2% ppo dosage. Do you remember why you ended up with that amount? I'm curious to know because this question comes up a lot and it's good to know the reasoning and experience behind people's choices.

since a chemist I am not, I went with trial, and found it worked well with the superfat I use which is usually lower than 5%. I have used up to the 3% with no problems and it did not affect the soap quality, but since I use a 50/50 solution it takes up to much of my extra liquid for adding in purees, milks etc

 

[DeeAnna]

Hey, thanks for sharing, Carolyn. I'm taking notes about this!

 

[Udo]

additional

 

[shunt2011]

This post is 3 years old. The OP hasn’t been here in a long time. Welcome to the forum, please read the rules stickies and be sure to introduce yourself.

 

[pjknight]

Teresa, I have tons of scum, too, and after exhaustive research, think EDTA is the best chelator/anti scum measure. Some people don't use EDTA b/c they think it is non-natural, also it is vilified for being an industrial pollutant, although I think the soapmaking usage has zero effect on the environment, so that doesn't bother me. If you are OK w/EDTA, post and we'll tell you how to mix it up. Actually, just check under "today's post" at the top of the page, there is an active thread which contains that info if you want it right away.

You have to jiggle lye amounts if using CA b/c the CA deactivates lye to some degree, I don't have the exact percentages at hand but can find the kind advice given to me on that and post it later if someone doesn't do it sooner. Don't use CA again before you have those numbers, though, you'll have soup again if you do.

 

[pjknight]

I am using 2.267.96 grams of oil in my soap recipie. Can you tell me how much citric acid to use in the recipie? I just cant figure it out!!!

 

[DeeAnna]

I am using 2.267.96 grams of oil in my soap recipie. Can you tell me how much citric acid to use in the recipie? I just cant figure it out!!!

How to calculate the weight of citric acid powder to add to soap:

1. Decide the percent of citric acid to use. I suggest starting with 2% of the total fat weight (20 grams citric acid per 1000 grams of fats).

2. Calculate the weight of citric acid powder

Citric acid weight, grams = Fat weight, grams X 2 / 100

If you are using a dosage other than 2% of total oil weight, replace the "2" in the formula above with the percentage you are actually using.

From my article: https://classicbells.com/soap/citricAcid.asp

 

[pjknight]

How to calculate the weight of citric acid powder to add to soap:

1. Decide the percent of citric acid to use. I suggest starting with 2% of the total fat weight (20 grams citric acid per 1000 grams of fats).

2. Calculate the weight of citric acid powder

Citric acid weight, grams = Fat weight, grams X 2 / 100

If you are using a dosage other than 2% of total oil weight, replace the "2" in the formula above with the percentage you are actually using.

From my article: https://classicbells.com/soap/citricAcid.asp

 

[pjknight]

I am using ca for DOS, therefore i want to use the lower amount. but , is 0.1 and 1 % the same when using the calculation? Im horrible in math...

 

[A-Polly]

One percent is 0.01. Ten percent is 0.1. If your total fat weight is 2,268 grams (rounded up because that tiny amount isn't going to be easily measured outside of a lab), then 1 percent citric acid will be 22.68 grams (2,268 x 0.01). Then, per the formula from DeeAnna's site, 22.68 x 6.24 = 141.5, and 141.5 divided by 10 = 14.15. So you would add an extra 14 grams of lye to keep your superfat the same for the recipe you're using.

I confess to often just asking my phone to calculate for me: "Hey Siri, what is 1.5 percent of [some number]?"

 

[DeeAnna]

I am using ca for DOS, therefore i want to use the lower amount. but , is 0.1 and 1 % the same when using the calculation? Im horrible in math...

Don't overthink the formula I gave you -- follow the instructions exactly as written.

If you want to use 2% citric acid in the soap, put the number 2 in the formula.

If you want to use 1% citric acid, put the number 1 in the formula.

If you decide to use a dose of 0.1% citric acid, then put the number 0.1 in the formula.

I really would not use 0.1% citric acid in soap, though. Even though that's what Kevin Dunn did, I think a dosage of 1% to 2% is more useful.