The Greek team investigated how thrown away materials could be utilised. After exploring several options we concluded that we can make soap out of used cooking oil or oil sub-products. In Greece, while producing oil at oil pressing units a large amount of oil subproducts is thrown away.  At households we usually despose of cooked oil as well. We would think that it is an excellent idea for each household to make use of oil into making soap instead of throwing it away after cooking. Since the oil is not dissolved in its surroundings, its reusing makes it an excellent ecological method as it reduces environment pollution. Moreover, the soap produced is a high quality natural product made out of extremely low cost materials compared to buying industrially produced soap.  

The materials we collected for the recipe are:

•  6kg of used cooking/frying oil

• 1kg of caustic soda (NaOH)

• 3kg of distilled water

 

The steps that we went through are:

1. We measured accurately the amount of each material.

2. In a tinplate pot (a plastic basket will also do)  we poured the distilled water.

3.  In the water, we added slowly and carefully the caustic soda, stirring constantly with a wooden stick. We were wearing protection gloves because temperature of the mixture rised and it started boiling.

       

      4. When the mixture started boiling we added the oil while stirring continuously. We noticed that the mixture lost its clarity and its colour became golden yellow.

    5.  We stirred with a wooden stick for 30 minutes and then with a stick blender for 10 minutes until the mixture became thick. If someone wishes for the soap to have aroma and/or color, like we did, during the agitation is the point to add essential oils or pigments.

 

   

 

6. Afterwards we placed the mixture into molds to tighten.

7. The day after we carved the soap placed in the large molds and in a week we removed it from the molds and put it in a cool and dry place.

8. After that we should wait at least 3 months for the soap to mature or it will burn our skin.

We enjoyed the whole procedure very much. It took us about 2 hours and we thought it was quite easy. While watching the gel phase we felt very proud. It was a fantastic experience to remove the soap from the molds and put it on a table in order to dry completely. We are looking forward to using our soap after 3 months have passed by.

This has given us an idea into establishing a business related to oil recycling.

Author: Kostas Cheliotis

Participating students:  Silia Polychroniou, Aggeliki Katsiroumpa, Katerina Dafna, Tatiana Tourkogianni, Kostas Cheliotis 

Supervising Professors: Elena Zalavra, Chryssanthi Korre, Dimitra Rimpa

Special thanks for advising and helping: Eleni Prokopiou, Natassa Demi-Chelioti, Ilias Cheliotis, Nikos Cheliotis.