Guest guest Posted October 29, 2004 Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 How is it that lye can be added to emulsions/products without there being a danger of being burned? a in Seattle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 29, 2004 Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 a wrote: > How is it that lye can be added to emulsions/products > without there being a danger of being burned? Caustic soda (NaOH or commonly called lye) is a highly alkaline chemical which is used in Cold process soap making to convert long chain fatty acids ( oils and fats) into soap and glycerine. Because it is strongly alkaline it can also be used to reduce the acidity of an emulsion or any other product that is too acidic. For example some preservatives are only effective in a certain pH range and so you would use an alkali like Sodium Hydroxide to reduce the acidity. Yes, there is a danger of being burned when handling the raw Sodium Hydroxide - as you would be if you used any strongly alkali or strong acid in making preparations. Of course you only add enough of these products to your product to create the effect you need - change the acidity of your product (i.e. change the pH.) As an aside, Sodium Bicarbonate. HaHCO3 (Baking Soda) is not the same thing as Lye (Sodium Hydroxide, NaOH) and one cannot be substituted for the other in soap making! My understanding that Sodium Hydroxide is readily available in the US under the trade name of Red Devil Lye - often available from hardware stores. I am sure a US member can help here. Bestest Leonie (Australia) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 30, 2004 Report Share Posted October 30, 2004 > Lye > is also used to make pretzels and to process those pre-peeled potatoes you > buy. > As well as olives and hominy...... The foods we eat are scary!!! W Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 30, 2004 Report Share Posted October 30, 2004 It depends on the dilution as well as the Ph of the emulsion. You usually find this in a manufacturing situation, not with a home crafter working on an inexpensive scale in their kitchen. Lye is just alkaline and can be used to neautralize anything that is acid. It is cheap and readily available. Lye is also used to make pretzels and to process those pre-peeled potatoes you buy. In a manufacturing situation they have equipment that can carefully monitor shifts in Ph as well as measue vey precise dilutions. Joanne ----- Original Message ----- Lye in Emulsions How is it that lye can be added to emulsions/products without there being a danger of being burned? a in Seattle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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