PRODUCTION OF LAUNDRY SOAP FROM LEATHER SOLID WASTE

Abstract

This final year project aims at production of soap from solid leather waste. The fleshing solid waste resulting from the pertaining process in tannery industry have higher amount of fat content. Those fats if properly extracted can be used in different aspects. In this project extraction of fat from this waste was performed at (65-700C) temperature by employing Soxhlet extraction. The effect of extraction was carried out by varying the solvent used and making other conditions constant (i.e. PH, temperature and time). The best extraction solvent among the compared solvents, Hexane and Petroleum ether for the specified fat source were selected. Due to extraction capacity having a higher yield, process safety, volatility and stability parameters the solvent Hexane was preferred. The fat was then characterized by different parameter resulting at PH of 6, acid value 0.53%, free fatty acid 0.2% with 0.1382mg/g of fat saponification value of animal fat. The effect of sample variation was also performed by differentiating their moisture content. The dry sample fat yield was greater than that of the moist. But fragrance during saponification reaction and it darkened the final laundry soap. Beside this additional cause for the fragrance as analyzed was the deficiency of water in sodium hydroxide solution. The technical and economic feasibility of the work for laundry soap production was performed. Results from the feasibility study indicated that the proposed work was feasible with return on investment (ROI) 22% and the payback period of the project is estimated to be 2.7 years.