SoapCalc Question

[BrewerGeorge]

What are the units for the numbers in the fatty acids section?

 

[kchaystack]

According to the help page - http://soapcalc.net/info/helptext.asp

Fatty Acids The approximate percentage of each fatty acid in the oil.

 

[DeeAnna]

Yep, percentages by weight.

 

[BrewerGeorge]

That was my first guess, but they don't add up to 100. I guess the balance would be other, unsaponifiable "stuff" then?

 

[kchaystack]

That was my first guess, but they don't add up to 100. I guess the balance would be other, unsaponifiable "stuff" then?

There are also other fatty acids that are not listed: caproic, caprylic, capric for example.

 

[DeeAnna]

If you add in the other fatty acids that Soapcalc doesn't worry about, the total fatty acid content of many fats comes close to 100%. The unsaponifiable content of many of the common soaping fats is fairly low.

For example, some people think olive oil has a high % of unsaponifiable chemicals, but it honestly doesn't. Regular olive is 1.5% max according to standards and olive pomace must be no more than 3%. At 1.5%, regular olive has an unsaponifiable content comparable to other soaping fats such as corn, hemp, palm, canola, etc. It's avocado that wins the prize for a high unsaponifiable content -- somewhere between 4% and 9%.

Send a PM to me with your direct email address and I'll send some info to you.

 

[Cherylnorise57]

I cant pull up soapcalc,not anymore am I doing something wrong? Or is there something wrong with site

 

[lsg]

The site must be down. Try Soapmaking Friend. https://www.soapmakingfriend.com/soap-making-recipe-builder-lye-calculator/