donniej
Well-Known Member
14 liters of biodiesel glycerin, right out of the processor (minus the methanol). The fuel was reacted with NaOH.
10% water (1.4 liters).
520 grams NaOH.
1 liter dry measure Stearic Acid.
I heated up the glycerol to ~150 - 175*F. I do this in a graduated 5 gallon HDPE bucket. I heat it with a 220v 2500 watt water heater element running off 110v. This isn't easy because you have to make sure the element doesn't touch the sides. A little handy work with a coat hanger will do.
After the glycerol was hot, I went into the kitchen and melted the stearic acid in a pan. Just after it became liquid, I ran it outside and mixed it with the glycerol. Next I mixed the lye and water... as soon as the lye disolved, and the lye/water was still very hot, I slowly mixed it in.
As soon as it started skin'ing over I mixed in 4 cap fulls of Rosemary Mint soap scent.
After mixing it thoroughly using a drill with paint mixer attachment, I poured it into a large tupperware bin. It took a couple hours to cool down but it was quickly obvious that it made a huge difference. It used to take weeks for the soap to become half as hard. After it cooled, I flipped the whole 4 gallon bar of soap out of the container like a great big brick of chocolate. Without stearic acid it would have bent and flopped out like a very firm jello.
It's good stuff. I can't imagine ever making another batch of bars without it!
10% water (1.4 liters).
520 grams NaOH.
1 liter dry measure Stearic Acid.
I heated up the glycerol to ~150 - 175*F. I do this in a graduated 5 gallon HDPE bucket. I heat it with a 220v 2500 watt water heater element running off 110v. This isn't easy because you have to make sure the element doesn't touch the sides. A little handy work with a coat hanger will do.
After the glycerol was hot, I went into the kitchen and melted the stearic acid in a pan. Just after it became liquid, I ran it outside and mixed it with the glycerol. Next I mixed the lye and water... as soon as the lye disolved, and the lye/water was still very hot, I slowly mixed it in.
As soon as it started skin'ing over I mixed in 4 cap fulls of Rosemary Mint soap scent.
After mixing it thoroughly using a drill with paint mixer attachment, I poured it into a large tupperware bin. It took a couple hours to cool down but it was quickly obvious that it made a huge difference. It used to take weeks for the soap to become half as hard. After it cooled, I flipped the whole 4 gallon bar of soap out of the container like a great big brick of chocolate. Without stearic acid it would have bent and flopped out like a very firm jello.
It's good stuff. I can't imagine ever making another batch of bars without it!
