COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SOAPS MADE FROM INDIVIDUAL AND BLENDED OILS (COCONUT AND PALM) BASED ON HARDNESS, LATHER FORMATION AND CLEANSING ACTION
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Date
2026-08-25
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MBUSA EDSON
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Soap quality inconsistencies remain a persistent challenge in small-scale production
where formulation strategies often rely on single oils without considering synergistic
blending potential. This study conducted a comparative analysis of soaps formulated
from coconut oil and palm oil both individually and in blended ratios (100:0, 75:25,
50:50, 25:75 and 0:100) evaluating their performance across hardness, lather formation
and cleansing action using standardized cold process saponification. After a three-week
curing period, 100% coconut oil (F1) produced the highest cleansing efficiency at
97.08% and greatest foam volume at 32ml but exhibited low foam stability at 78.1%.
Conversely, 100% palm oil (F5) produced the hardest bars but the lowest cleansing
efficiency at 40.00%, lowest foam volume at 19ml and lowest foam stability at 57.9%.
The 50:50 blend (F3) achieved the highest composite quality score of 4.29, ranking first
overall with 100% foam stability, demonstrating a synergistic effect in which palm oil
stabilized the lather of coconut oil. The 75:25 blend (F2) ranked second with a
composite score of 3.96, achieving 86.08% cleansing efficiency and 96.7% foam
stability, making it optimal for use as a multipurpose toilet soap. F1 and the 25:75 blend
(F4) tied for third with composite scores of 3.33 each, while F5 ranked fourth with a
score of 2.97. Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA revealed that every 25%
change in the coconut-to-palm ratio produced a significant difference in cleansing
performance (F (4,10) = 26084, p < 0.001), confirming a dose-dependent relationship
between lauric acid content and oil removal efficiency. Curing for three weeks reduced
within-group variance by 73.7%. These findings provide evidence-based
recommendations that 100% coconut oil should be used for heavy-duty laundry, 75:25
blend for multipurpose toilet soap, 50:50 blend for sensitive skin and palm-rich blends
for applications requiring maximum bar longevity. This research contributes to
sustainable cosmetic chemistry for small-scale soap producers in Eastern Uganda and
similar contexts.
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MBUSA EDSON