Use of jatropha seed oil and alkali solution obtained from its ash for soap making : an environmentally friendly and cost effective approach

The present study investigated the potential of Jatropha curcas L. seed oil and lye its ash for soapmaking. Oil was extracted from the seeds using Soxhlet extractor and n-hexane. Lye solution was obtained by boilingash of Jatropha with distilled water. The physicochemical properties (saponification value, Iodine value, acid valueand peroxide value) of the oil (and its blend with palm oil) were found to be consistent with reported values inliterature. The oil content and its relative density were also found to be 31.17% and 0.88g/cm3, respectively. Soapsamples were prepared by treating the oil and the prepared lye solution. Their physicochemical properties (moisturecontent, total alkali content, total fatty matter, pH, foam ability and cleansing ability) were found to be comparablewith reported properties for laundry soaps. The findings indicated that the lye solution from ash of Jatropha and itsseed oil result in soap materials that have acceptable qualities