Process for the production of soap from neutral fats

A process for the production of soap from neutral fats by reaction of fats and/or oils with an alkaline hydroxide or mixture of alkaline hydroxides, characterized by the fact that this process consists in:

• preparing an aqueous solution of the alkaline hydroxide or mixture of alkaline hydroxides having a quantity in moles equal to the one of the fatty acids contained in the fat and/or oil and a quantity of water equal to the one required to obtain the required concentration of fatty acids in the final soap;
• heating the thus obtained aqueous solution at a sufficient temperature to obtain a clear solution of the alkaline hydroxide;
• heating the fat and/or oil at a temperature at least equal to the one of the alkaline hydroxide aqueous solution;
• mixing the hot and liquid fat and/or oil with the hot aqueous solution of the alkaline hydroxide in a pressure reactor and,
• completing the reaction under pressure at a temperature exceeding 100° C.