Palm oil – coconut oil – olive oil soaps with okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) preparation and testing

The purposes of this research project are to produce solid soap from natural-based ingredients, to analyze the physical and chemical properties of the soap as well as the antimicrobial activity of the soap towards Escherichia coli. Three types of oils chosen for this project are coconut oil, olive oil and palm oil. Several different ratio of two types of oil will be prepared for the production of soap. Each oil without mixing the other oils is prepared for the control of the experiment. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) extracts will be substituted with distilled water in the preparation of sodium hydroxide. At the end of the saponification process, the ground okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) will be added into the soap mixture as the additive in the soap. After the production of soap has complete, the physical, chemical and biological parameters of the soap will be examined. The physical parameter to be observed is the color of the soap. The soaps have three different colors which are influenced by the ingredient added into the soap. The colors of the soap are dark brown for Type A soap, light brown for Type B soaps and milky white for Type C soaps. Meanwhile, the chemical parameters that will be considered in this study are the pH value, foam height, foam retention and alcohol insoluble matter of the soap. The pH value of all soaps were found to be in the acceptable limit which is within pH 8.5 to pH 10.5. Most of the soaps did not reached the acceptable limit of foam height which is 400ml. Only Type C soap made up of olive oil with foam height of 400ml, the acceptance limit of foam height. Meanwhile, the foam retention of soaps were stable after the observation for 4 minutes with 1 minute intervals time for all types of soaps. The alcohol insoluble matter of all types of soaps are found to be in the acceptance limit which is less than 0.5%. Last but least, the biological parameters to be determined is the antimicrobial activity of the soap which is based on the zone inhibition of Escherichia coli. The antimicrobial activity of soap was also examined. Some of Type A and Type B soaps expressed the antimicrobial activity. However, all Type C soaps do not show any antimicrobial activity towards wild type Escherichia coli.