ABSTRACT
There are agro-wastes that are generated from different sites such as agro based industries, local vendors or farm products, and in plantation sites after harvesting and these materials have not been explored as potential sources of alkalis for black soap production. Thus, this study aims at comparing the content of alkali metals in plantain fruit stem, empty palm bunch, jatropha, neem stem, and avocado stem.
All materials were obtained from Benin City, Edo state and their ash and mineral contents were determined quantitatively with preference given to potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium.
From the study, it was found that the plantain fruit stem had the highest values for all parameters assessed which are ash content of 14.49±0.01% and total alkali metal content of 149000mg/kg expressed as a function of the ash. For calcium and magnesium, it has the least to value of 16231mg/kg. The least values of 1.20% ash and 43750mg/kg potassium and sodium were found for avocado stem. For the production of soap, neem stem was chosen since due to its availability and higher ash content compared to jatropha and avocado.
