Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
What does biodegradable mean?
• Well by definition it means capable of being decomposed by biological agents like bacteria.
• Keep in mind that biodegradability doesn't necessarily mean environmentally friendly.
Biodegradable soap • A biodegradable soap is a cleaning agent that can
decompose naturally over time. • These soaps can help reduce environmental impact
when hikers, backpackers, and campers need to bathe or clean their belongings.
• Depending on the formulation of soap that is purchased, it can be used on the body, face, hair, hands and objects such as dishes and clothes.
What To Remember
• Biodegradable soap is NOT biodegradable when it ends up in a river or lake because it requires soil for it to breakdown properly.
• Biodegradable soap is NOT NATURAL.... it is a chemical.
• If you wouldn't want to drink it then keep it out of water sources.
What to use instead of Biodegradable Soap
• Use a washcloth.• Hot water and a little scrubbing can clean
mostly anything.• Scrub dirt or grime away with wet sand
and/or tiny pebbles.• Use alcohol based waterless hand
sanitizers to kill germs.• Soap is not 100% necessary for good
personal hygiene
SO ARE SALTS BIODEGRADEABLE?
You don't see piles of rocks biodegrading because they don’t have carbon to be biodegradable and it must be an organic compound . So salt is chemically impossible to biodegrade as they are not made of carbon and are
inorganic.
The fate of fatty acid salts in aqueous systems is complicated by the fact that there are a
numbers of water soluble and water insoluble groups and combinations of these.
The rate of biodegradation is mainly dependent on the physical and chemical characteristics. In particular solubility, adsorption and CMC (critical micelle concentration) are key factors.
• Unlike detergent, soap does not contribute the excess phosphates to the environment that cause over growth of algae.
• Once soap is made (if made properly) there should be no lye left. It is used up in the reaction between it and the fat used to make the soap. The result should be glycerol and soap.
• Bar soap is definitely on the list of...• ...safe and environmentally friendly cleaning
products.
