Soap business is one of the most lucrative business in Nigeria today. This is because soap is one commodity that every household needs and can’t do without. We use soap everyday.
Another reason why soap is very much profitable is because it does not get spoilt and any commodity that can stay for long is certain to make profit both in the long and short run.
In Nigeria today, there is a huge increase in the production of liquid soap. Many people use it to wash their clothes and cooking utensils at home. Even restaurants and other eating establishments are not exempted.
The fact that liquid soap is simpler and less expensive to use than any other cleaning agent is an intriguing factor in the huge demand for the product.
Many people are currently entering the industry. The cost of producing liquid soap is typically low, and since the internet has made everything more appealing in this generation, one may not need any additional training.
In 2022, you can establish a small scale liquid soap business with as low as #30,000. You can earn, money for yourself and focus on producing and selling liquid soaps.
CHEMICALS REQUIRED FOR THE PRODUCTION OF LIQUID SOAP
Please note that the quantity of these chemicals that should be bought is dependent on how many litres of liquid soap you want to make. You can ask the vendor to know the right quantity.
Nitrosol (or Antisol)
Caustic Soda
Soda Ash
SLS
Sulphonic Acid
STPP
Texapon
Foam Booster
Formalin
Colour (As desired)
Glycerine (Optional)
Perfume (As desired)
Vitamin E (Optional)
MATERIALS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF LIQUID SOAP
A big mixing bowl
Containers
Wooden spoon or stick for stirring (or a hand mixer for chemicals if you can afford one)
A pair of Scissors
Spoon
Hand glove
Nose mask
Rubber gloves
Measurement bowl or container or beaker
PROCEDURE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF LIQUID SOAP
To ensure that any chemical introduced at any step dissolves properly before adding the next one, it takes a lot of patience during stirring.
Follow the same procedure but focus on your ratios while producing smaller volumes, such as 8 or 10 liters. The vendors who sell these chemicals often do so with pre-measured amounts based on the volume of liquid soap that will be generated. (Still, if you can, get your measuring tools for precision.)
They will provide you with the necessary amount of chemicals after you let them know how much volume you plan to create. It is best to start modest and increase the volume over time. Measure out approximately 20 liters of water, then carry out the following procedures:
1. Caustic soda should be dissolved in 1 liter of water prior to production, possibly overnight or over the course of 24 hours. You can still dissolve a few hours before the major production, but a longer period of time yields the greatest results. Please make sure that children cannot access any chemicals. Caustic soda is corrosive to the skin.
2. As above, dissolve the soda ash (i.e with 1 litre of water and keep overnight for proper dissolution)
3. Dissolve the Nitrosol with 10 litres of water or lesser, in a bigger mixing bowl just before production. In case you want to opt for Antisol in preference to Nitrosol, dissolve it in the same amount of water and let it stay for at least 24-48 hours before production. Note: this should be properly dissolved and will look like a ‘starchy solution’ at the end.
4. Dissolve the SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) in 1 litre of water to produce a clear solution before production; keep it aside. This should be done at least one hour before production. If you want it to dissolve well, dissolve in water and leave overnight.
5.Dissolve the STPP (Sodium Tripolyphosphate) in 1 litre of water before production and keep it aside too. (Some people don’t use STPP for whatever reasons best known to them)
6. Mix the Texapon and Sulphonic Acid together. Mix very well and dissolve further with 2 litres of water. Stirring should be done gently until the mixture is well dissolved and homogenous. Note that this particular step is an exothermic process; meaning that heat will be generated if you do it well.
7. Dissolve the powdered colour with a small quantity of water and keep it aside.
8. Gently pour the dissolved mixture of Sulphonic Acid and Texapon into the mixing bowl containing dissolved Nitrosol(or Antisol}. Stir very well and gently until the mixture becomes homogenous. You need patience here.
9. Add the dissolved Caustic Soda into the mixing bowl above and stir very well.
10. Add the dissolved Soda Ash next and stir very well until even.
11. Next, add the STPP and stir properly
12. Add the Dissolved SLS and stir more.
13. Add Foam Booster to make it foam very well.
14. Add your Formalin and keep stirring
15. Vitamin E and Glycerine can be added at this point. Don’t forget to stir and stir.
16. Finally, allow the lather formed to settle and disappear, then add the dissolved colour and perfume, and stir properly. Now add the remaining water. Do this gradually, small quantity at a time, stir each time and pay close watch on the thickness until the desired is attained.
It’s crucial to follow this order; else, you might creating something you don’t like. It is expected that your soap should bubble up an foam nicely, have a lovely scent, an appealing color, must be robust and the skin must not be irritated in any way.
It can be packaged in plastic containers and labelled.
