Tips and Guides

Banana is one of the most common and widely grown fruit crops in the Philippines. It is also one of the country’s major dollar earners, and has consistently ranked next to coconut oil and prawns in terms of value earnings during the last five years.

In 1991, banana topped local production among the other major fruits such as pineapple and mango, thus eating up more than one-third of the production pie.

Banana has various uses. The ripe fruit is pureed, candied, and preserved in various forms when not eaten fresh. Its extract is used in the manufacture of catsup, vinegar, and wine. The unripe fruit is powdered and chipped.

In rural areas, the young leaves are pounded to suppress bleeding and treat wounds. The leaves are also widely used as packing materials for fruits and vegetables in market centers. Banana fiber is manufactured into rope, sack, and mat. Sheets of paper and paper boards are also made from banana peel. Banana blossom is exported dried. Filipino housewives use it in special dishes.

VARIETY

Banana is native to Southeast Asia where the climate is warm and humid. Of the 57 banana cultivars, the following are the most common in the Philippines:

1. Saba
grows to as tall as 20 feet; fruit is angular; has thick peel that is green when unripe, yellow when ripe; flesh is white when ripe; gestation period is 15 to 16 months.

2. Lacatan
grows to a height of five to nine feet; fruit is round, seedless; has thick peel that has green when unripe, yellow-orange when ripe; gestation period is 14 to 15 months. Read more…

A. PREPARATION OF LAUNDRY SOAP

Materials/Ingredients (for 28 bars):

Coco oil – 8 kg
Caustic soda solution, 36oBe [30% solution] – 5 kg
Soda ash – 90 kg
Salt – 48 g
Sodium silicate – 400 g
CDEA [coco diethanolamide] – 40 mL
Citronella oil – 20 mL
Water – 6 L

Equipment/Tools:

Plastic pail – 16 L cap. [2]; 20 L cap. [1]
Hydrometer, 0-70oBe
Weighing scale – 10 kg
Wooden stirrer/manual or electric mixer
Moulder
Cutter
Spatula, stainless
Basin (large)
Graduated cylinder

Preparation of Materials:

Caustic soda solution, 36oBe (30% solution)
Dissolve 2 kg caustic soda in 4.6 liters water. Cool to room temperature, check the concentration with the hydrometer, adjust (if necessary) and filter if needed before using.

Additives:

Dissolve salt, soda ash and sodium silicate in 1.4 L of water.

Preparation of the Soap:

1. Measure or weigh carefully the required quantity of coco oil.
2. Weigh the lye or caustic soda solution required (5 kg) and add slowly to the oil, stirring continuously for about 30-45 minutes until it attains the condensed milk-like consistency.
3. Add the measured amounts of dissolved additives and CDEA (foam booster) with continuous stirring from 5-10 minutes more. Then add the essential oil with stirring. Stop stirring when the mixture attains a viscosity similar to condensed milk.
4. Pour the homogenous viscous soap mixture into the moulder, allow to set at room temperature for 12 hours or until soap solidifies.
5. Cut the soap into bars of suitable sizes with a string or wire attached to the wooden/metal cutter. Twenty-eight (28) bars will be produced. The soap is white or creamy white. Cut bar into 4 pieces and pack in a plastic bag.
6. Allow to age from 7 to 10 days to complete the saponification
reaction.

B. PREPARATION OF TOILET SOAP/BATH SOAP (OPAQUE)

Materials/Ingredients (for 14 bars, 135 g/bar):

Refined coconut oil – 4.5 kg
Caustic soda solution (32oBe) – 3.25 kg
EDTA (Ethylene diaminetetracetate) – 70 g
Citric acid – 70 g
Sodium chloride – 4.5 g
CDEA (Coco diethanolamide) – 50 g
Light mineral oil – 70 g
Scent to suit
Color (optional)

Equipment/Tools:

Pails – 16 L cap. (2); 20 L cap. (1)
Basin (large)
Hydrometer – 0 – 70oBaume
Weighing scales – 10 kg cap.; 500 g cap.
Mold and cutter
Wooden stirrer/manual or electric mixer
Spatula, stainless

Preparation of Materials:

1. Caustic soda solution, 32oBe
Dissolve 0.855 kg of caustic soda (NaOH) in 2.4 kg water. Cool to room temperature. Check the concentration with the hydrometer. Adjust if necessary and filter if needed before using.

2. Additives
Dissolve EDTA, citric acid and salt in 100 mL water. For color, make a 1% solution. Add color in oil.

Preparation of the Soap:

1. Weigh carefully the required quantity of coco oil. To make a colored soap, add about 10 mL of the 1% color in oil solution or the amount to suit the desired intensity of color.
2. Add the required amount of caustic soda with stirring until the condensed milk-like consistency is attained. This usually takes 45 minutes to 1 hour.
3. Add the dissolved additives and continue stirring for 5 minutes more.
4. Add the light mineral oil, CDEA and scent. Stir for another 5 minutes.
5. Pour the soap mixture into the moulder. Let it stand at room temperature for 12 hours or until soap solidifies.
6. Remove soap from the moulder and cut into desired size.
7. Stamp and pack. Allow to age for about 7 days to complete the saponification.

C. BATH SOAP (TRANSPARENT)

Materials:

Coconut oil – 100 gms
Stearic acid – 100 gms
Castor oil – 80 gms
Caustic soda solution (38oBe) – 160 gms
Glycerol – 85 gms
Alcohol – 100 gms
Sugar – 80 gms
Water – 80 gms
CDEA 25 gms
Perfume (Optional)

Preparation of 38oBe Caustic Soda:

Dissolve 1 kg caustic soda in 2 liters of waters. Cool to room temperature. Measure the concentration with a hydrometer. Adjust (if necessary) and filter if needed before using.

Procedure:

1. Weigh all the ingredients
2. Melt separately the stearic acid and coconut oil at 80oC.
3. Add castor oil first before adding lye into the charge oil
4. Mix caustic soda with alcohol; add slowly to fat charge with stirring. Temperature should not exceed 75oC.
5. In a separate container, dissolve sugar in water at 80oC (remove any froth)
6. Add to the soap mass, the glycerol, the water-sugar solution, and the CDEA stirring constantly.
7. Cover and allow to stand until temperature reaches 60oC, add perfume and color (if needed).
8. Transfer to mould or frame.

NOTE: Rapid cooling is essential for soap transparency.

D. BATH SOAP WITH HERBAL SOAP

Materials/Ingredients:

Refined coconut oil 4.5 kg
Caustic soda 3.25 kg
EDTA 70 g
Citric acid 70 g
CDEA 50 g
Light mineral oil 70 g
Sodium chloride 5 g
Scent
Herbal extract
Color [optional]

Equipment/Tools:

Plastic pail
Hydrometer – 0 – 70oBaume
Weighing scale
Cutter
Wooden stirrer/manual or electric mixer
Moulder
Stamper

Preparation of Materials:

1. Caustic soda, 32oBe
Dissolve 1 kg of caustic soda in 2.8 kg water. Cool to room temperature. Check the concentration with a hydrometer. Adjust (if necessary) and filter if needed before using.

2. Additives
Dissolve EDTA, citric acid and NaCl in 100 mL water. For color, make a 1% solution of color in oil.

3. Preparation of extract
Osterize or blend 200 grams of material in 200 mL water. Strain thru cheesecloth.

Source: ITDI, DOST, photo courtesy of www.pamperingu.com

To make sure that the soap you are using does not have the chemicals that you don’t like, and for personals reasons such as (1) you wanted to use coconut oil instead of animal fat, and (2) if you cannot find in the market you’re desired combination of chemicals – you can make soaps yourself at the comfort of your home. Many people have turned their hobby of soap making into lucrative businesses by producing quality organic herbal soaps. Below are procedures; with coconut oil as primary ingredient; how to make laundry soap, toilet soap, bath soap, and herbal soap.

LAUNDRY SOAP

Materials/Ingredients (for 28 bars)

Coco oil – 8 kg
Caustic soda solution, 36oBe [30% solution] – 5 kg
Soda ash – 90 kg
Salt – 48 g
Sodium silicate – 400 g
CDEA [coco diethanolamide] – 40 mL
Citronella oil – 20 mL
Water – 6 L

Equipment/Tools

Plastic pail – 16 L cap. [2]; 20 L cap. [1]
Hydrometer, 0-70oBe
Weighing scale – 10 kg
Wooden stirrer/manual or electric mixer
Moulder
Cutter
Spatula, stainless
Basin (large)
Graduated cylinder

Preparation of Materials

Caustic soda solution, 36oBe (30% solution)
Dissolve 2 kg caustic soda in 4.6 liters water. Cool to room temperature, check the concentration with the hydrometer, adjust (if necessary) and filter if needed before using.

Additives

Dissolve salt, soda ash and sodium silicate in 1.4 L of water.

Preparation of the Soap

1. Measure or weigh carefully the required quantity of coco oil.
2. Weigh the lye or caustic soda solution required (5 kg) and add slowly to the oil, stirring continuously for about 30-45 minutes until it attains the condensed milk-like consistency.
3. Add the measured amounts of dissolved additives and CDEA (foam booster) with continuous stirring from 5-10 minutes more. Then add the essential oil with stirring. Stop stirring when the mixture attains a viscosity similar to condensed milk.
4. Pour the homogenous viscous soap mixture into the moulder, allow to set at room temperature for 12 hours or until soap solidifies.
5. Cut the soap into bars of suitable sizes with a string or wire attached to the wooden/metal cutter. Twenty-eight (28) bars will be produced. The soap is white or creamy white. Cut bar into 4 pieces and pack in a plastic bag.
6. Allow to age from 7 to 10 days to complete the saponification
reaction.

TOILET SOAP/BATH SOAP (OPAQUE)

Materials/Ingredients (for 14 bars, 135 g/bar)

Refined coconut oil – 4.5 kg
Caustic soda solution (32oBe) – 3.25 kg
EDTA (Ethylene diaminetetracetate) – 70 g
Citric acid – 70 g
Sodium chloride – 4.5 g
CDEA (Coco diethanolamide) – 50 g
Light mineral oil – 70 g
Scent to suit
Color (optional)

Equipment/Tools

Pails – 16 L cap. (2); 20 L cap. (1)
Basin (large)
Hydrometer – 0 – 70oBaume
Weighing scales – 10 kg cap.; 500 g cap.
Mold and cutter
Wooden stirrer/manual or electric mixer
Spatula, stainless

Preparation of Materials

1. Caustic soda solution, 32oBe

Dissolve 0.855 kg of caustic soda (NaOH) in 2.4 kg water. Cool to room temperature. Check the concentration with the hydrometer. Adjust if necessary and filter if needed before using.

2. Additives

Dissolve EDTA, citric acid and salt in 100 mL water. For color, make a 1% solution. Add color in oil.

Preparation of the Soap

1. Weigh carefully the required quantity of coco oil. To make a colored soap, add about 10 mL of the 1% color in oil solution or the amount to suit the desired intensity of color.
2. Add the required amount of caustic soda with stirring until the condensed milk-like consistency is attained. This usually takes 45 minutes to 1 hour.
3. Add the dissolved additives and continue stirring for 5 minutes more.
4. Add the light mineral oil, CDEA and scent. Stir for another 5 minutes.
5. Pour the soap mixture into the moulder. Let it stand at room temperature for 12 hours or until soap solidifies.
6. Remove soap from the moulder and cut into desired size.
7. Stamp and pack. Allow to age for about 7 days to complete the saponification.

BATH SOAP (TRANSPARENT)

Materials

Coconut oil – 100 gms
Stearic acid – 100 gms
Castor oil – 80 gms
Caustic soda solution (38oBe) – 160 gms
Glycerol – 85 gms
Alcohol – 100 gms
Sugar – 80 gms
Water – 80 gms
CDEA 25 gms
Perfume (Optional)

Preparation of 38oBe Caustic Soda

Dissolve 1 kg caustic soda in 2 liters of waters. Cool to room temperature. Measure the concentration with a hydrometer. Adjust (if necessary) and filter if needed before using.

Procedure

1. Weigh all the ingredients
2. Melt separately the stearic acid and coconut oil at 80oC.
3. Add castor oil first before adding lye into the charge oil
4. Mix caustic soda with alcohol; add slowly to fat charge with stirring. Temperature should not exceed 75oC.
5. In a separate container, dissolve sugar in water at 80oC (remove any froth)
6. Add to the soap mass, the glycerol, the water-sugar solution, and the CDEA stirring constantly.
7. Cover and allow to stand until temperature reaches 60oC, add perfume and color (if needed).
8. Transfer to mould or frame.

NOTE: Rapid cooling is essential for soap transparency.

BATH SOAP WITH HERBAL SOAP

Materials/Ingredients

Refined coconut oil 4.5 kg
Caustic soda 3.25 kg
EDTA 70 g
Citric acid 70 g
CDEA 50 g
Light mineral oil 70 g
Sodium chloride 5 g
Scent
Herbal extract
Color [optional]

Equipment/Tools

Plastic pail
Hydrometer – 0 – 70oBaume
Weighing scale
Cutter
Wooden stirrer/manual or electric mixer
Moulder
Stamper

Preparation of Materials

1. Caustic soda, 32oBe
Dissolve 1 kg of caustic soda in 2.8 kg water. Cool to room temperature. Check the concentration with a hydrometer. Adjust (if necessary) and filter if needed before using.

2. Additives
Dissolve EDTA, citric acid and NaCl in 100 mL water. For color, make a 1% solution of color in oil.

3. Preparation of extract
Osterize or blend 200 grams of material in 200 mL water. Strain thru cheesecloth.

Source: ITDI, photo from www.jatujakguide.com

Corn has many uses. It can be used as feed for livestock, forage, silage or grain. Industrial uses include transforming the corn into plastics and fabrics. Other uses are in the production of syrups, such as the high fructose corn syrup, a sweetener. It can also be fermented and distilled to produce grain alcohol such as the bourbon whiskey. Recently, with the increase in the prices of oil, corn has been used a source of ethanol as an additive in gasoline (gasohol) for motor fuels to increase the octane rating. Human consumption of corn and cornmeal constitutes a staple food in many regions of the world.

This post will show how corns can be made into soap. Farmers who grow corn may not realize that they can make use of the corn they grow instead of selling it to local merchants. They can add value to their product by making cornmeal soap. The family can use this at home, or they can sell it to their neighbors and earn some money.

About Cornmeal Soap

Cornmeal soap is made from high-quality natural ingredients, including various kinds of vegetable oil, cornmeal and sesame seed. For this reason, this kind of handmade soap is very mild on the skin.

Cornmeal is added to the recipe to improve the quality of the soap. Cornmeal soap helps to unclog the pores and remove excess oil. The rough granules of cornmeal scrub dirt and oil from the skin.

Farmers can make their own cornmeal using the following recipe.

Recipe for Cornmeal Soap

Ingredients

* Coconut oil – 220 g
* Olive oil – 100 g
* Palm oil – 80 g
* Lye – 73 g
* Water – 140 g
* Cornmeal – 20 g
* Sesame seeds – 2.5 g
* Glycerin – 25 g
* Vitamin E – 2 g
* Fragrance – 8 g

Method

* Pour the lye into the water and stir well. Set aside until the temperature falls to 42 C.
* Mix the coconut oil, olive oil and palm oil together in an enamel pot. Heat the oils to a temperature of 42 C.
* Slowly pour the lye solution into the oil mixture and stir well. If the temperature of the mixture falls, heat the mixture up to 42 C again.
* Stir the mixture for up to one hour until it becomes ‘trace’, (i.e. clear). Then add the glycerin, Vitamin E, cornmeal and sesame seed. Stir for five minutes, then add the fragrance.
* Pour the soap into molds. Leave for at least six hours or overnight.
* Remove the soap from the molds, and cure in a shed for one month. This is to make sure there is no residual effect from the caustic lye.

POINTS FOR BEGINNERS

* The corn should be ground to a fine powder, otherwise it may irritate the skin.
* The sesame seed should be cut into small pieces rather than crushed. This is because crushing squeezes the oil out of the seed, and the ground sesame clumps together.
* You should wear an apron, rubber gloves, and safety goggles to protect yourself from the caustic lye solution.
* Avoid using utensils made of aluminium or other metals, because they react with the caustic lye solution. An earthenware pot should be used to treat the mixture.
* After the lye has been poured into the water, stir it immediately. Otherwise, the lye will clump together and be difficult to dissolve.
* When you pour the caustic lye solution into the oil mixture, make sure that the temperature of the lye and the temperature of the oil are the same.
* Protect the surface of the table you are using with old newspaper.
* The molds should be made of plastic, because it is easier to get the soap out.
* If it is difficult to get the soap out of the molds, put the molds into a freezer for three or four hours. You can then remove the soap easily.
* This recipe yields nine bars of soap, each weighing 60 g. The production cost is approximately US$0.25 per bar. This cost is calculated from the ingredients only, and does not include the cost of kitchen utensils. The recipe can be doubled or tripled, depending on the amount required.
* After the bars have been cured for one month, check the pH of the soap with litmus paper before it is used. The soap should have a pH of 8-10.

This method is not difficult to follow. It may be awkward at first, but when you get used to it, it becomes quite enjoyable. People often enjoy experimenting with the recipe. In Thailand, many groups of farmers from many provinces have become interested in making cornmeal soap.

Source: Dr. Chutima Koshawatana Nakhon Sawan Field Crops Research Center Tak Fa, Nakhon Sawan 60190, Thailand; FFTC; wikipedia.