In a Nigerian chemical manufacturing plant producing soap from local palm oil, arrange the key industrial stages in the correct sequential order from raw material preparation to the final finished product.
- 1Heating raw palm oil with concentrated sodium hydroxide solution in reaction vats.
- 2Boiling the mixture to complete saponification, converting triglycerides into soap and glycerol.
- 3Adding concentrated sodium chloride solution to precipitate soap curd from the aqueous glycerol mixture (salting out).
- 4Washing the soap curd, blending with fragrances and builders, and pressing into finished commercial bars.
Answer
The correct sequence begins with heating raw palm oil with concentrated sodium hydroxide solution, followed by boiling to complete saponification into soap and glycerol, then adding concentrated sodium chloride solution for salting out, and lastly washing, blending, and molding into finished soap bars.
The industrial manufacturing of soap follows a logical chemical sequence: raw oil is first combined with concentrated and heated; boiling carries out the saponification reaction producing soap and glycerol; adding brine () decreases soap solubility to precipitate it (salting out); and finally, downstream refining, washing, perfuming, and molding produce marketable bars.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Saponification process and salting out in soap manufacturing