Soap making process

A process for making water soluble soap in the form of granules from materials normally employed in soap manufacture including a fatty acid source, caustic and water, the amount of water present being such that the concentration of caustic is from 10% to 70% by weight of the water, comprising the steps of introducing said materials into an enclosed mixing vessel, causing said materials to be subjected to intensive countercurrent mixing for a period of time sufficient to saponify said materials, making the vessel substantially air tight and applying a vacuum to said materials within said vessel to form soap granules having a moisture content of less than about 20% by weight.

A process for making water soluble soap in granular form from raw materials normally employed in soap manufacture including a fatty acid source, caustic and water, the amount of water present being such that the concentration of caustic is from 10% to 70% by weight of the water, comprising the steps of introducing said fatty acid source into an enclosed mixing vessel provided with a pan and a rotating means mounted within said pan and said vessel, each of said pan and said means being rotatable in a direction counter to each other, starting the rotation of said pan and said rotating means, introducing said caustic and water into said pan, making said vessel substantially air tight, beginning the application of vacuum to the materials within said vessel after saponification is essentially complete and continuing the rotation of said pan and rotating means until soap granules having a moisture content of less than about 20% by weight are obtained.

A process for making water soluble soap granules from a mixture of a fatty acid source, caustic or alkali and water, the amount of water present being such that the concentration of caustic is from 10% to 70% by weight of the water, wherein neutralization of said fatty acid source has proceeded to some degree comprising the steps of introducing said mixture into an enclosed mixing vessel, causing said mixture in said vessel to rotate in a generally circular path while simultaneously bringing said mixture into contact with a rotating means mounted within said vessel, said means rapidly rotating in a direction counter to the initial direction of flow of said mixture in said vessel whereby saponification, if required, takes place, making said vessel substantially air tight and applying a vacuum to said mixture within said vessel whereby soap granules are formed having a moisture content of less than about 20% by weight.