1,2,3Department of Biochemistry, Sahyadri Science College, Shivamogga-577201.
4Department of Biochemistry, SRNMNC College of applied Sciences, Shivamogga-577201.
In most disciplines, adsorption is an often employed phenomenon, particularly in cleaning and purification. Using a wide variety of adsorbents include clay, silica gel, activated carbon, amongst them activated carbon is a widely used. Usage of activated carbon in cosmetics is a recently developing field that include activated carbon based shampoo, sun-tan creams, toothpaste, whitening agents. Making soap using activated carbon is one example of such an application. Hence in our studies we are intrested to make a activated carbon soap by Areca catechu in our laborotory. The soap was made using vegetable fat, alovera gel, soap base, and a few flavorings, as well as a tiny quantity of the prepared activated carbon.In this case, an activated carbon adsorbent was made from finely powdered areca nut shells and activated with phosphoric acid at a temperature of 95–100°C, the prepared soap material was tested for its alkalinity, acidity and moisture content.
India is the country where a many of the states are growing areca as a commercial crops. In which Karnataka has the leading state of growers some of districts such as Shivamogga, Davangere, Chitradurga, Mysore, Kodagu, Kanara, and Chikmagalur are the main locations for areca nut production. Also, areca nuts are grown in plain land area. Overall production comes from coastal regions, plain land areas and from other districts. In Malnadregions of Karnataka, areca nut growing is one of the traditional agricultural practice. It has been blow out to plain fields in recent years due to their access to canal water and irrigation ventures (Ramappa 2013). The areca crops are usually harvested during the month of August to September. Some of the areca types Api, gorabalu, bette, rashi, idi, chaali and other are cultivatedamong them. Areca nuts in Shimoga district is famous for chooru or split types Agriculturalists in Karnataka are known for using mixed crop vegetation. In adding to areca, farmers actively nurture peppers, cardamom, vanilla and cocoa as sub crops. In Karnataka, the area under cultivation of areca crops is risingregularly as agriculturalists cash crop on vacant land (Jyotishi et al., 2022). The corporeal and biochemical qualities of activated carbon, as well as the activation process, determine its physiognomies. Because it is budget friendly and renewable source, agricultural waste is look upon as a vital feedstock for the manufacture of activated carbon. Since the processed activated carbon is expensive, research is continuing to treasure sorbents that are both inexpensive and locally producible from agro wasteresources. The areca nut shell is utilised as an adsorbent and for the manufacture of activated carbon in this study. The endosperm, which is an eatable nut, is enclosed within the rigid, fibrous external covering known as the husk of an areca nut (Heidarinejad et al., 2020). Different initiationmethods can be used to produce activated carbon from a range of agricultural waste products. Using agricultural waste as a precursor material to generate activated carbon has garnered attention in more recent times. As a consequence, less activated carbon will be imported, firming up the economy. The current study's objectives are to produce activated carbon from areca nut shells and investigate the activation process with phosphoric acid as an activating agent. Areca waste and phosphoric acid are combined in different proportions to makethe activated carbon. Completely natural organic soaps made by cold processing. Along with natural herbs like lemon juice and alovera gel. The antibacterial activity of this activated carbon soap solution is higher than that of commercially available soaps. Alsotheses soaps produce less foams and eradicates stains and lubricants(Jadhav, A.S. &Mohanraj, G.T.. 2016, Paraskeva et al., 2008).The husk fibres of Areca catechu are used to clean teeth by the rural people in Dakshina Kannada districts of Karnataka, (Makruf et al., 2024). According to appraisals, Areca catechu shells have antibacterial potentials and can encounter a different infection causing organisms. The study was conducted to make an activated carbon at a lowworth. Areca nut shell activated carbon soap may provide surface protection by acting as a pathogenic repellent. In the current study we are concentrating to overcome the wastage of areca shells and also to utilize the same as a source for activated carbon soap, a risingquantity of people are searching for organic products to overcome chemically made cosmeticsand also replacements to some of the daily things they use. (Jam N et al., 2021 and Cyriac et al., 2012). The unique characteristics of cellulose make it a very significant biomaterial among cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin (Chandel et al., 2023). Areca spathe may be the finest source of raw resources for the withdrawal of cellulose nanofiber. Our study mainly focused on generating Areca catechu activated carbon soap, because areca production in our study area is higher and the areca's outer shell is anonymously accessible. As a result, we planned to create an Areca activated carbon and made activated carbon soap that could be useful in the future for making organic soaps or activated carbon based cosmetics. (Rangana Gowda et al., 2019 and Perumal et al., 2022).
2. MATERIAL AND METHOD
2.1MATERIALS
Concentrated phosphoric acid procured from Thermo Fischer Scientific was used as activating agent. Distilled wateris used for washing of the activated carbon after the activation process. 50ml of vegetable oil (Neem oil), 10 gram of sodium hydroxide, 100ml of distilled or demineralised water for preparation of the soda solutions, 2g of activated carbon and 50g of alovera gel and HCl is used in activation of the carbon. Preparation of 3M hydrochloric acid: 3ml of hydrochloric acid is measured acurately and poured into 100ml of distilled water. Preparation of 10% soda solution: 10g of Sodium hydroxide is dissolved in 50 ml of distilled water amd made the final volume to 100ml with distilled water.Raw materials that we used in the work are husk of areca nut collected from the regions of Holehonnuru, Shivamogga.
2.2 METHODS
2.2.1 Raw material preparation
Fresh areca nut shells were collected from the local farm land situated in the regions of Holehonnuru, Shivamogga. The shells were processed by washing with distilled water and were dried in ahot air oven at 100°C-110? for overnight. The dried shells are troddeninto minorpiecesof size approximately1-2mm and were crushed by using mechanical pestle and mortar. The finely chopped and crushed Areca nut shells were used for manufacturing of activated carbon, and also prepared carbon powder was used for soap (Sunanda et al., 2013 and Kiran 2014).
2.2.2 Processing of activated carbon
Preparation of activated carbon was carried by taking 50gm of raw material and activating agent phosphoric acid. For the 50gm prepared raw material, 250ml of phosphoric acid was added and mixed gently by using the glass rod or agitator for around 30minutes and 60ml of distilled water was slowly added and incubated in room temperature for one day. After the incubation, the left over acidic water was removed and the remaining impregnate sample was taken out and dried in hot air oven for 100-110°C for 24 hr. The dried samples are weighed, kept in muffle furnace for 400-650°C to make a char and removed, cooled to room temperature and powdered. The powdered carbon was washed twice with distilled water until pH is neutral, the material was dried in a hot air oven at 100°C for 16 hrs, the dried carbon material further washed with 3M hydrochloric acid. The washed powdered samples again dried at 95-100°C for 4 hr in a hot air oven. Then the activated charcoal was used to soap manufacture (Yakout &Sharaf El-Deen 2011; Demiral et al., 2016).
2.2.3 Operating method for the saponification process
The 50ml of bleached neem oil was boiled on hot water bath for arround 50-60°C. The boiling was stoped and small quantities of 10% soda solution was added and stired gently.After the solution was emulsified, the temperature of the reaction was raised to 98-105°C. Stir the mixture persistently and heat upto 3hours, add aloevera gel (known as effective organic skin refresher and antifungal agent)to it and gently mixed.The quality of the soap was tested by using trowel on a glass slide. If the prepared soapslide off on aglass slide without a trace binding, the saponification is considered as completedand if traces remain it is incomplete. After the completion of saponification 5gm activated carbon powder was addedto 25gm of hot soap mixture and stir for 5 minutes. Place the parchment paper into the mould and pour the saponified paste and kept for cooling in room temperature. Depart it to dry for 4-5 days. Remove the moulded soap and analysed the acidity and basicity of the soap solution (Gichuki 2022 and Alum 2024)
2.2.4 Estimation of Total Fatty Matter (TFM) content of areca soap
The prepared areca soap was weighed accurately about 3gm in a watch glass and transferred into a clean 250ml conical flask and add 50ml of distilled water to dissolve the soap. The soap solution was boiled up to 30-40min the fatty matter floats above the solution. Then the H2SO4 was added slowly and carefully using a pipette along the sides of the conical flask until the fatty acids floats as a separate layer above the solution. The obtained fatty material was collected and filtered using a whatman No1 filter paper and were air dried and the remaining residue was weighed. From the weight difference method, the percentage of total obtained fatty matter in the given areca soap sample was identified (Padzil et al., 2024; Uduma et al., 2023).
2.2.5 Estimation of total alkali content of soap
Accurately weigh 3gm of areca soap and dissolve it in 50ml of hot distilled water in a 250ml conical flask and add 50ml of 0.5N HCl and boil on water bath till it forms a clear layer and the mixture was cooled on ice bath. Filtrate the obtained liquid into a clean conical flask, Add few drops of phenolphthalein indicator (pH8) to this mixture and titrated with 0.5N NaOH solution. Blank titration was carried with 10ml of 0.5N HCl. Calculate the amount of 0.5N acid consumed in terms of Sodium oxides (Na2O) and the percentage of Sodium oxides was determined (Muhab et al.,2024; El Abdouni et al., 2024).
2.2.6 Estimation of iodine value of neem oil
Neem oil was taken and weighed about 1gm and taken in a round bottom flask. To this flask, 20 ml of chloroform and 30ml of hanus solution (18.2g of iodine dissolved in 1000ml of glacial acetic acid and add 3ml of bromine water to this mixture) was added and made into warm and cooled for 5-10min. Then the mixture containing round bottom flask was kept for incubation in dark for 30min in a no light place. After the incubation 20ml of 15% potassium iodide solution and 100ml of distilled hot water was added, cooled and titrated in contrary to 0.1 N sodium thio sulphate solution until yellow colour appears. Further 1ml of starch indicator is added to this mixture and continued the titration against the sodium thio sulphate solution. Departure of blue colour specifies the end point of the titration. The procedure was repeated in absence of neem oil indicates the blank( Nicol et al., 2024; Samanta et al., 2023).
2.2.7 Estimation of acid value of oil
Accurately 1gm of neem oil was weighed and taken in a flask and add 10ml of 95% ethanol and boil the mixture for 10-15min and titrated against strong base 0.1N NaOH with phenolthalein indicator till the end point (Rukmana et al., 2024; Elouardi et al., 2024).
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 The percentage yield identification
Total percentage yield = Obtained weight of activated carbon after carbonization / Weight of the arecaraw material taken*100
Total percentageyield of activated carbon= 48g / 70g * 100 = 68.57%.
3.2 Preparation of activated carbon soap
Fig 1: preparation of activated areca carbon organic soap procedure
The figure 1 represents thepreparation of activated areca carbon organic/neem oil soap by using saponification procedure and the obtained percentage yield of prepared activated carbon was 68.57% and the prepared moulded soap weight was found to be 86gm. The prepared soap material was taken and incorporated for the further validation. The saponification value of the neem oil was found to be = 190mg KOH/g
2.2.4 Estimation of Total Fatty Matter (TFM) content of areca soap
The total fatty matter present in the soap is the vital features that describe the superiority of the prepared soap. The total measure of fatty matter is the sum of the preliminary fat acids that are accumulated in the soap. A greateramount of fatty acids present in the prepared soap infers the more hydrating capacity and less detrimentalto the skin. The soaps with more hydrating capacity indicates less dryness and if the hydrating capacity is less or the less amount of fatty acids in soaps infers the dryness and may damage the skin texture by forming the irritation, rashes or edema and may result in skin infections. In the current study the total percentage of fatty acids/matter content of areca soap was found to be 78.33% and infers good amount of fatty acids and hydrating capacity.
2.2.5 Estimation of total alkali content of soap
The Neem oil or any vegetable oil mixtures with more total fatty acids may results in forming smooth soaps. As stated by the Bureau of Indian Standards good quality soaps must contain lesser than 5% of total alkaline content in the soaps while according to International Organisation for Standardisationsoaps must have below 2% of the alkali content. In our study we obtained 4.8% of alkali content.
2.2.6 Estimation of iodine value of neem oil
The measurement of iodine value was resolute by the presence of number of double bonds present in the oil taken. The iodine value was determined for 1gm of the neem oil sample in which the grams of iodine monochloride reacts with the double bonds present in the oil and the obtained quantity is directly proportional the obtained result given 8gm of iodine/1gm.
2.2.7 Estimation of acid value of neem oil
The acid value was determined by measuring the total amount of acidic compounds that are present in the neem oil and the value is the number of milligrams of potassium hydroxide that used to neutralise 1gm of neem oil. Further in our study we conclude that the acid value of the neem oil was found to be 1.92 KOH/g of oil.
3. CONCLUSION
The Activated carbon soap prepared from Areca nut shell has considerable moisture in comparison with other soaps, as referred Areca nut shell serves as a good antimicrobial agent. Activated carbon serves present in the soap is well distributed and on application forms lather that bind with the dust and impurities there by complete removal of stains, and with good moisture once washed off.
Usage of naturally available raw materials and less amount of base is the preliminary factor for the good quality of the soap. Though there are some activated carbon soaps commercially available in market, the one produced in our study is cost effective and may result as skin friendly. Our soap may accept the aloe vera properties and may use as an anti-bacterial agents, and also it may improves the moisture content and glownessfor the skin, that has to be proven in the future studies. Commercially available soap contains sodium lauryl sulphate and skin whitening agents that may result in dermatitis but the prepared activated carbon soap does not contains any such toxic chemicals and also our prepared soap contains about 78.3% of total fatty matter and 4.8% of the total alkali content. Thus, it may replace many chemically made soaps and also the husk of areca that are wasting in all over the country may be used as the organic material in future for the synergetic preparations of the soaps and other cosmetics that may be safe for the skin health.
Abbreviations
gm: Gram
%: Percentage
*: Multiply
/: Divide
ml: Millilitre
N: Normality
°C: Degree Celsius
hr: Hours
Foot notes: The authors declare that this section is not required.
Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: We acknowledge the Department of Biochemistry, Sahyadri Science College, Kuvempu University for sponsoring infrastructure and materials required in completion of this work.
REFRENCES
Dr. Sunil S. V.*, Priya K. R., Nethravathi A. M., Nayana K. N., Areca Catechu Husk Is a Potent Material for Preparation of Organic Cosmetics, Int. J. of Pharm. Sci., 2025, Vol 3, Issue 2, 1620-1627. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14892388
10.5281/zenodo.14892388
