Industrial Chemistry > 5. Saponification is an important organic industrial process > Performing Saponification In School >
Describe the conditions under which saponification can be performed in the school laboratory and compare these with industrial preparation of soap.
| Parameter/Condition | School Laboratory | Industry |
| Production | Small scale | Large scale |
| Raw materials | Generally cheap and limited to Coconut oil, NaOH, water, food coloring and NaCl | Not limited, good quality and generally include blended fats and oils (tallow, coconut oil, palm kernel oil and palm oil), colorant, fragrances and various active ingredients |
| Equipment | Stirrer, hot plate | Distiller, heater, mixer, molder |
| Temperature and Pressure | – Standard atmospheric pressure
– Temperature is about 50-80oC using bunsen burner. |
– High pressure (about 4.5-5 MPa)
– High temperature (240-270OC ) |
| Reaction Time | – about 1 hour
– Overnight solidification of soap. |
– Washing and setting of soap takes several days. |
| Safety | – Follows standard laboratory measures (wear of goggles, gloves, lab gown, etc) | – Follows standard laboratory operational rules (wear protective clothing, gloves, goggles, etc) |
| Waste Disposal | – Liquid layer (mainly glycerol, water and excess NaOH) above soap is decanted and transferred to designated waste container | – By-product such as glycerol is purified and sold to the cosmetics industry for cream-related uses |