When natural oils are treated with strong acids or heated with water under pressure, fatty acids are converted to soap with the effect of strong alkalis. This division of fats is called saponification.

The method for determining the amount of soap is used to determine the sodium soap content and other basic substances that react with hydrochloric acid, such as magnesium soap or basic phosphatides. The test results are calculated in percent of sodium soap or percentage of sodium hydroxide.

Soap amount analysis results are used to control the removal of free fatty acids from soap by neutralizing. In this way, it is determined whether the amount of soap remaining in the oil is suitable for the relevant codex.

The principle of the method is to determine the amount of soap dissolved in fats as sodium oleate. Oleate is a fatty acid ester with low viscosity and high flash point.

Soap amount is determined in the annex of the Turkish Food Codex Communiqué on Plant Oils (Communiqué no: 2012 / 2012) published by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock in 29 as follows:

• Up to 0,005 (m / m) in refined oils
• Should not be in cold pressed and natural oils

Soap amount analyzes performed within the framework of neutralized oil analyzes are carried out in order to have information about residual soap amount in oil. If the washing process is not done well, the amount of soap is high. However, if bleaching is applied, the amount of soap is low this time.

The amount of soap is determined only in refined oils and is used to determine whether the amount of soap complies with standards or agreements between businesses. There are serious risks regarding the quality of oils today.

Soap content is determined in authorized laboratories within the scope of chemical tests. In these studies, the standards published in our country and in foreign countries are complied with.