In Korkut Oil Soap Company, olive oil is generally used in soap production. If customers have special requests other vegetal oils can be used.
However, the firm's specilaity is "olive oil soap". The saponifaction reaction is a two-step process. In the first step, according to the reaction below, glycerol creates the hydrolisis.
The result of this reaction is that glycerin and fatty acids emerge. In the second step the fatty acids and alkaline hydrate interact to produce what is known as soap.
In the first reaction above, the glyserine soap that emerges is a very valuable chemical that is purified six times. The ratio of soap in the six purifications can be high or low depending on the ratio of saponification. Recovering over a certain percentage recovered has a reductive effect on the cost of soap. In KORKUT Oil Soap Industry, the glycerin that is recovered from six purifications, is sold to businesses that produce glycerin.
The oils that come to the establishment in tankers, tanks or jugs are pressed into soap cauldrons or are stocked in tanks in existing depots.
A quantity of water is released into the soap cauldron (so that there is no sticking to the bottom). Then oil is pressed in and heating begins. When the temperature reaches 70-80 degrees, a specific soldium hydoxide solution that is prepared ahead of time is slowly added. This procedure can last from 4-6 hours depending on the specific characteristics of the oil. Water is added as needed. The salty water (electrolytes) is added and the mixture is left to rest. The next day the mixture is poured at a specific thickness onto mats. The day after soap is cut and stamped and stacked.
If the soap is to be pressed into various shapes, it will be cut into a certain thickness, made into chips, dried and if essence and color are to be added this will be done in the mixer. After this process the soap will be pressed and homogenized. It will go into the spaghetti machine and then the soap will be cut according to the dimensions needed. After resting for one or two days, the soap will be automatically or semi-manually pressed into its final shape and branded.