Post on 27-Jul-2015
description
EXPLORING THE ATTRIBUTES OF THREE SOAPS MADE USING
DIFFERENT PARTS OF AN ORANGE (Citrus sinensis)
Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of Requirements in Science III - B,
UP Rural High School, UP Los Baños
ABSTRACT
Laboratory experiments were conducted at BIOTECH-UPLB to explore the attributes of three types of soap made using different parts of oranges. The study focused on determining the pH level and the Vitamin C content of the three soaps, namely, orange flesh soap, orange flesh and peel soap, and orange peel soap. Using an electric pH meter, it was found out that the orange flesh soap, orange flesh and peel soap, and orange peel soap have a pH level of 9.14, 9.17 and 9.25 respectively. It was also found out that the three soaps have a significant Vitamin C content as all three discoloured the blue solution of dicholorophenol-indophenol (DCPIP). Based on the results, it is concluded that the attributes of the three soaps, made using different parts of an orange, are well within the normal/recommended attributes for body soaps. With this, it is recommended to utilize discards or oranges in making the said soaps.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ABSTRACT.........................................................................................................
...1
LIST OF
TABLES..................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................
....4
REVIEW OF RELATED
LITERATURE..............................................................6
METHODOLOGY..............................................................................................
....8
RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION.............................................................................10
SUMMARY AND
CONCLUSION........................................................................12
RECOMMENDATIONS.....................................................................................
...13
LITERATURE
CITED...........................................................................................14
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LIST OF TABLES
Table No. TitlePage
No.
1pH Level of the Three Orange
soaps....................................10
2Level of Discoloration Using
DCPIP...................................10
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INTRODUCTION
During the harvest season of oranges, especially the locally-grown sintunis, the surplus
produce usually brings down the price of the oranges. It is also during this time when
discards from oranges, especially the peelings, are usually plenty. These discards are
usually thrown like most vegetable and fruit discards.
The low price of oranges during its harvest season is of course a problem of orange
growers/producers. The discards, especially the peelings, on the other hand are not yet
put into good use despite the fact that orange peelings have a high content of Vitamin C
(Orange Peel).
Now, one way to address the situation mentioned above is to find another use for orange
(aside from food) and to utilize its discards. And these days when the so-called organic
products are gaining notice could just be the right time to do so. It is becoming common
nowadays to see beauty products made from organic products. One can find these
products even in events such as flower shows in UPLB. And usually, organic products
command a decent if not high price in the market.
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It is within this scenario that the problem of low price of orange producers could be
addressed and also the orange discards be put into good use. Along this line, this study
would want to explore the attributes of three soaps made using different parts of oranges.
These three soaps are namely orange flesh soap, orange flesh and peel soap, and orange
peel soap.
As organic beauty products are becoming fashionable and profitable nowadays, exploring
the attributes of the said three soaps may well address the problem facing orange
producers/growers and also open a way to utilize and make beneficial the otherwise
discards of oranges. And as more and more people are getting aware of the benefits of
using products utilizing organic materials, soap production using oranges may address the
important problems/situations facing orange growers/producers. Of course, any
enterprising individual could also try this on his own.
This study will focus primarily on pH testing and Vitamin C content testing. This is
because the pH level of a soap is an indicator of its fitness and safety for human use. On
the other hand, the Vitamin C content testing will tell us if orange soaps are good for the
skin. It is because Vitamin C is a major requirement in having a smooth and healthy skin.
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REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Orange is already known early in human history. It was already used as a well-known
medicine in China and Indo-China during the first century A.D. (Orange Peel).
Nowadays, it is still recognized as an excellent source of Vitamin C (Natural Food-Fruit
Vitamin C Content). And Vitamin C is important in strengthening our immune system
against many ailments. It also helps in forming collagen which is important in making
our skin healthy.
With these, orange is one of the plants with medicinal value that were already utilized in
making organic/herbal soaps. It is even easy nowadays to find resources from the internet
which detail the process of making orange soaps. In the website ehow.com alone, there
are already a variety of soapmaking recipes which utilize orange.
One such article is “How to Make Creamy Orange Body Soap” (Christopher Godwin).
The article claims that this kind of soap is good for “dry, damaged skin that needs
essential mositure”. It adds the opinion that making such soap can also lead to savings as
store-bought products are usually expensive. Another article on the same website entitled
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“How to Make Orange Soap” by Charlotte Johnson also claims that making this soap will
help you avoid harsh and irritating soaps and instead customize a soap that is gentle and
moisturizing.
Now orange soaps are technically under organic product labels. And the significant
notice that organic products is getting nowadays is an indication that there is a good
market for products like orange soaps.
As discussed in “Organic Beauty Products – The Pros and Cons”, the perceived health
benefits in using organic products give reason to people to purchase those products. This
is because of the assumption that “organic ingredients would naturally be healthier for
your skin and body than their chemical counterpart” (Organic Beauty Products – The
Pros and Cons).
Yes, organic wellness products are becoming fashionable and profitable even in the
Philippines. Just a few years ago, an entrepreneur in Los Banos started a line of products
using the lowly rice bran as a base (Cinco, Oil from ‘darak’ joins wellness products). The
given climate then is suitable for the development of products like organic orange soaps.
And though there are already a variety of orange soaps, those are usually produced by
using the essential oils of orange. In this study, orange parts are used directly and not just
the essential oils. And so, this not only saves time but also makes it simple that even
common folks can do the same.
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METHODOLOGY
In order to explore the attributes of the three soaps in this study, the three soaps were
made first using the following method.
Preparing the Oranges
1. Oranges were gathered.
2. Orange peel and flesh were separated.
3. The parts are then cut into smaller pieces (i.e. chopping, blending, etc.).
Making the solution
1. A 1000 mL virgin coconut oil is put in a container.
2. An 800 mL lye solution is added to the oil.
3. Then a 27.35g of the orange part is then added to the mixture (the weight of the cut
orange parts is proportional to the amount of coconut oil and lye solution).
4. Other dermatological substances (i.e. lanolin (5g), tocopherol (4 tabs), etc) are added to
enhance some other soap attributes.
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Note that in all the processes, the mixture/solution is stirred continuously in one direction
to avoid spillage and burns (if on step 2 onwards).
Also, after the last step the soap mixture is poured into soap molds to make soap shapes.
And while the soap mixture was solidifying, samples were taken for the pH level test.
Samples were taken at this stage as it would be during this time when the soap would
have its highest pH level.
After the soap had solidified, samples were taken again from each soap type to test for
Vitamin C content. This was done using the reagent DCPIP. A solution of DCPIP was
prepared by dissolving 1 tablet of the said reagent in a 30mL water inside a beaker. Then
three test tubes were filled with 5ml each of the DCPIP solution. Into each of these test
tubes, 3ml of also of the diluted samples from each soap were mixed. The discoloration
of the blue color of DCPIP would indicate the presence of Vitamin C.
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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In measuring the pH level of the three soaps, the following observations were recorded.
Table 1. pH level of the three orange soaps
Soap Type pH level
Orange Flesh Soap 9.14
Orange Flesh and Peel Soap 9.17
Orange Peel Soap 9.27
The recorded results show that the orange flesh soap had a pH level of 9.14. The orange
flesh and peel on the other hand had a pH of 9.17 while the orange peel soap had a pH of
9.27. The results obtained indicate that the pH levels of the three soaps are well within
the normal pH range for soap which is pH 7 – 10 despite the fact that the samples were
taken at the moment when the pH level of the three would probably be at its highest.
The above results showed us that the three soaps are all fit and safe for use as the pH
levels fall within the normal range of pH values for soap which is pH 7-10. From the
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results, it can also be inferred that the orange peelings have higher pH than its flesh. It
can also mean that the orange flesh is more acidic than orange peelings.
In testing the Vitamin C content of the three soaps, a DCPIP solution was used. The
following table shows the results obtained.
Table 2. Level of Discoloration of DCPIP
Soap Type Level of Discoloration
Orange Flesh Soap low
Orange Flesh and Peel Soap moderate
Orange Peel Soap high
From the table, orange peel soap and the orange flesh and peel soap registered a high
level of discoloration than the orange flesh soap. The discoloration of the DCPIP solution
is an indicator that the sample tested contains Vitamin C. The high level of discoloration
when the sample from orange peel was tested shows that orange peels have the highest
content of Vitamin C. From the results, it is clear that utilizing orange parts, especially
the peelings, in making orange soaps is feasible because of its high vitamin C content.
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SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
In exploring the attributes of three soaps made from different parts of oranges, a pH test
and a Vitamin C test was conducted. The pH test was done by taking samples from each
type of soap while still on the process of solidifying. This is to determine the highest
possible pH level of the soaps as it was during that stage when the pH level would
logically be high. Then when the soap had solidified, it was tested for Vitamin C content
using DCPIP as reagent.
In the pH test, it was found out that the orange flesh soap, orange flesh and peel soap, and
the orange peel soap have a pH of 9.14, 9.17 and 9.27 respectively. These results indicate
that the pH values are within the normal range of pH 7 -10. On the other hand, from the
Vitamin C test using DCPIP, it was learned that all the three soaps induced discoloration
of the DCPIP solution. The high level of discoloration was observed in the orange peel
soap followed by the orange flesh and peel soap while the orange flech soap ranked last.
This showed us that orange peelings have higher Vitamin C content than the flesh of the
orange.
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From the said tests, it was learned that the attributes of the three soaps are well within the
normal charateristics of body soaps. It is therefore concluded that orange and its discards
could be utilized in making orange soaps, preferably orange peel soaps. The orange peel
soap is especially recommended as the orange peelings are the common discards of
oranges and since it has a high Vitamin C content.
RECOMMENDATIONS
In conducting the experiments, the method of Vitamin C testing was carried out without a
reference to other substances with known values. This can be remedied by comparing the
results obtained with substances with known values of Vitamin C (like ascorbic acid
tablets).
Also, the experiments were done in a laboratory setting. So the methods used in this
study may not be appropriate for home/cottage industry setting. This can be remedied by
trying the experiments at home.
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LITERATURE CITED
SARIAN, ZACHARIAS. Oil from ‘darak’ joins wellness products. Philippine Daily
Inquirer (April 4, 2010)
Retrieved 2010 from eHow: www.ehow.com
Retrieved 2010 from World Wide Web: http://www.herbalextractsplus.com/
Retrieved 2010 from World Wide Web: http://www.naturalhub.com/
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