Exploring Soap Thickeners: A Comparative Study of Sodium Chloride to the Alternate Benefits of Carrageenan and Xanthan Gum

Exploring Soap Thickeners: A Comparative Study of Sodium Chloride to the Alternate Benefits of Carrageenan and Xanthan Gum

Poster - Theoretical Proposal

This research aims to explore the impact of thickening agents when formulated in hand soaps. Sodium chloride is the most used additive for soap to create a thicker consistency. It is however known to possibly dry the skin and cause irritation. The focus of this proposal is on comparing the most used ingredient to thicken soap, sodium chloride, with carrageenan and xanthan gum as potential alternatives to thickening. Both carrageenan and xanthan gum provide moisturizing effects along with their ability to thicken solutions. An investigation into the structural properties of these additives will be conducted to better understand how each additive functions to increase the viscosity. Additionally, this study seeks to examine the potential benefits of using alternative thickeners, such as skin health and product quality. This contributes to the goal of a deeper understanding of hand soap formulation and its implications for both consumers and manufacturers. This goal could be achieved by proposing an experiment to test and measure the viscosities of each additive in various concentrations. This proposal would also test and observe the soap foam formulation levels of each additive. This will provide information to determine the effectiveness of each additive at a specific concentration and the change in the characteristics of the soap solution.