Physical properties of soaps obtained with the participation of plum kernel oil (Prunus domestica L.)

The production of soaps has existed for centuries and the methods for assessing their quality are evolving in accordance with modern technological requirements, and are increasingly influenced by consumer preferences. For them, the functional properties that determine the effectiveness of the soap, ergonomic and aesthetic properties are important. The combination of these properties determines the quality of the soap. The purpose of this study was to determine the physical properties of soaps obtained with the participation of kernel oil from plums (Prunus domestica L.). There are five variants of soaps made from plum, palm and coconut oils in different proportions. The physical characteristics of the soaps were analyzed - hardness and stickiness, surface tension and a user evaluation was made. The results prove that the addition of kernel plum oil to the standard recipe (coconut/palm oil) in an amount of up to 20-30 %, has a positive effect on the properties of the soap. Plum kernel oil has the potential to be used in the production of soaps by the cold method.