AFRICAN DARS
STANDARD 490
Second Edition 2017
Laundry soap — Specification
Reference No. DARS 490:2017(E)
ICS 71.100.40
© ARSO 2017
DARS 490:2017
Table of contents
1 Scope ............................................................................................................................................. 1
2 Normative references ..................................................................................................................... 1
3 Terms and Definitions .................................................................................................................... 1
4 Grades of laundry soap .................................................................................................................. 2
5 Requirements ................................................................................................................................. 2
5.1 Physical requirements ........................................................................................................... 2
5.2 Chemical requirements .......................................................................................................... 3
6 Sampling ......................................................................................................................................... 3
7 Method of test ................................................................................................................................. 3
8 Compliance with the standard ........................................................................................................ 3
9 Packaging and labelling ................................................................................................................. 4
9.1 Packaging .............................................................................................................................. 4
9.2 Labelling................................................................................................................................. 4
Annex B (normative) Determination of rosin content of fatty mater in soaps ........................................ 5
Annex B (normative) Staining test for laundry bar soaps ...................................................................... 8
Annex C (normative) Sampling and inspection ...................................................................................... 9
ii © ARSO 2017 — All rights reserved
DARS 490:2017
Foreword
The African Organization for Standardization (ARSO) is an African intergovernmental organization
established by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Organization of
African Unity (AU) in 1977. One of the fundamental mandates of ARSO is to develop and harmonize
African Standards (ARS) for the purpose of enhancing Africa’s internal trading capacity, increase
Africa’s product and service competitiveness globally and uplift the welfare of African communities.
The work of preparing African Standards is normally carried out through ARSO technical committees.
Each Member State interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has
the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, Regional Economic
Communities (RECs), governmental and non-governmental organizations, in liaison with ARSO, also
take part in the work.
ARSO Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare ARSO Standards. Draft ARSO Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
ARSO Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ARSO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This African Standard was prepared by the ARSO Technical Harmonization Committee Number 5 on
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (ARSO/THC 05).
© African Organisation for Standardisation 2017 — All rights reserved*
ARSO Central Secretariat
International House 3rd Floor
P. O. Box 57363 — 00200 City Square
NAIROBI, KENYA
Tel. +254-20-2224561, +254-20-3311641, +254-20-3311608
Fax: +254-20-218792
E-mail: arso@[Link]
Web: [Link]
*
2017 ARSO — All rights of exploitation reserved worldwide for African Member States’ NSBs.
© ARSO 2017 — All rights reserved iii
DARS 490:2017
Copyright notice
This ARSO document is copyright-protected by ARSO. While the reproduction of this document
by participants in the ARSO standards development process is permitted without prior
permission from ARSO, neither this document nor any extract from it may be reproduced, stored
or transmitted in any form for any other purpose without prior written permission from ARSO.
Requests for permission to reproduce this document for the purpose of selling it should be
addressed as shown below or to ARSO’s member body in the country of the requester:
© African Organisation for Standardisation 2017 — All rights reserved
ARSO Central Secretariat
International House 3rd Floor
P.O. Box 57363 — 00200 City Square
NAIROBI, KENYA
Tel: +254-20-2224561, +254-20-3311641, +254-20-3311608
Fax: +254-20-218792
E-mail: arso@[Link]
Web: [Link]
Reproduction for sales purposes may be subject to royalty payments or a licensing agreement.
Violators may be prosecuted.
iv © ARSO 2017 — All rights reserved
DARS 490:2017
Introduction
© ARSO 2017 — All rights reserved v
AFRICAN STANDARD DARS 490:2017
Laundry soap — Specification
1 Scope
This African Standard specifies requirements, sampling and test methods for two grades of laundry
soaps pure and built or filled laundry soaps in the form of cakes, tablets bars, produced from
vegetable, animal oils, fats or a blend of all or part of these materials. It does not cover liquid soap for
household purposes, and bar soap, in which synthetic detergents have been added to enhance its
performance.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 456, Surface active agents — Analysis of soaps — Determination of free caustic alkali
ISO 457, Soaps — Determination of chloride content — Titrimetric method
ISO 672, Soaps — Determination of moisture and volatile matter content — Oven method
ISO 673, Soaps — Determination of content of ethanol-insoluble matter
ISO 862, Surface active agents — Vocabulary
ISO 684, Analysis of soaps — Determination of total free alkali
ISO 685, Analysis of soaps — Determination of total alkali content and total fatty matter content
ISO 1067, Analysis of soaps — Determination of unsaponifiable, unsaponified and unsaponified
saponifiable matter
ISO 6839, Anionic surface active agents — Determination of solubility in water
3 Terms and Definitions
For the purpose of this standard the definitions in ISO 862 and the following definitions apply.
3.1
pure laundry soap
well saponified unfilled laundry soap
3.2
built or filled laundry soap
laundry soap containing of builder or filler
3.3
colouring matter
any cosmetic grade colorants used to colour laundry soap
3.4 builder
complementary component of soap, usually inorganic, which with reference to the washing action,
adds its characteristic properties to those of the essential constituents.
© ARSO 2017 — All rights reserved 1
DARS 490:2017
NOTE Builders are added to a soap to improve its effectiveness under the conditions of use. The action of builders is mostly
physico-chemical and comprises a series of effects, which results in more economic usage and better cleansing action of soap
especially in hard water areas. Substances commonly used as builders are soda ash, sodium silicates, sodium phosphates,
borax and cellulose derivatives.
3.5
fillers
Materials added to soaps to increase the mass of the product but which in themselves do not improve
effectiveness of the soap under the conditions of use. Fillers are generally inert and of an almost or
completely non-detergent character.
3.6
free caustic alkali
the quantity of hydroxyl ion, reported as sodium hydroxide (Na OH) for sodium soaps or potassium
hydroxide (KOH) for potassium soaps, which is found in solution after precipitation with barium
chloride under the operating conditions described.
3.7
laundry soap
a soap which is intended for laundry purposes.
NOTE Laundry soap may contain, fillers, builders, colouring matter, perfume, optical brightners, preservatives, glycerin or
oparifiers.
3.8
lot
an identified quantity of laundry soap produced under essentially the same conditions.
3.9
total fatty matter
the water-insoluble fatty material obtained by decomposing the soap with a mineral acid under the
conditions specified. This term includes unsaponified matter, glycerides and any rosin acids contained
in the soap, in addition to the fatty acids.
3.10
total free alkali
the sum of the free caustic alkali and the free carbonate alkali contents. The results are generally
expressed as a percentage by mass as either sodium hydroxide (Na OH) for sodium soaps or
potassium hydroxide (KOH) for potassium soaps. They may also be expressed in milliequivalents per
gram.
4 Grades of laundry soap
Laundry soap shall be of the following grades and designations:
a) Grade I (Pure laundry soap)
b) Grade II (Built or filled laundry soap)
5 Requirements
5.1 Physical requirements
5.1.1 Appearance: Laundry soap shall be free from visible dirt and other foreign matter.
5.1.2 Texture: Laundry soap shall be of firm texture and possess good lathering and cleansing
properties.
5.1.3 Odour: Laundry soap shall be free from objectionable odour. It shall not leave objectionable
odour on clothes after washing and thorough rinsing with water.
2 © ARSO 2017 — All rights reserved
DARS 490:2017
5.1.4 Staining property of colouring matter: When coloured laundry soap is used in washing any
white fabric, it shall not leave any visible stains on the fabrics.
5.1.5 Stability: When immersed in distilled water for one hour at 25 – 30 °C, laundry soap shall not
disintegrate, and when dried at room temperature for 25 h thereafter, it shall not crumble, crack or
break.
5.1.6 Toxicity: Laundry soap shall be non-toxic and shall not irritate the skin.
5.2 Chemical requirements
Laundry soap shall comply with the requirements in Table 1.
Table 1 — Chemical requirements for laundry soap
Requirements
Method of
Characteristics %(m/m)
Test
Grade I Grade II
Total fatty matter, min. 62 45 ISO 685
Rosin acids content, fatty matter basis, max. 8 15 Annex A
Matter insoluble in ethanol, max. 2.5 20 ISO 673
Free caustic alkali, as NaOH, max. 0.1 0.3 ISO 456
Total free alkali, as NaOH, max. 0.2 0.4 ISO 684
Total unsaponified and unsaponifiable fatty matter, max 0.2 0.6 ISO 1067
Moisture and volatile matter content at 105° C, max. 30 36 ISO 672
Chloride content, as NaCl, max. 1.5 2 ISO 457
Staining Shall pass the test Annex B
6 Sampling
Samples shall be drawn at random from lots and the relevant sampling plan determined in
accordance with Annex C.
7 Method of test
7.1 Samples of laundry soap shall be tested in accordance with the methods of test referred to in
5.1.5 and Table 1.
7.2 Before testing, reduce the sample taken in Clause 6 to a final sample by cutting each bar or
cake of soap into eight parts by three mutually perpendicular cuts passing through the middle of each
face.
Take two diagonally opposite eighths and, if the final sample so obtained exceeds 500 g, divide each
eighth into two equal parts. Slice, grate finely or pass through a mechanical grinder, mix thoroughly
and store in a completely filled container.
8 Compliance with the standard
The lot shall be deemed to comply with the standard, if after inspection and testing, it complies with
the requirements specified in Clause 5.
© ARSO 2017 — All rights reserved 3
DARS 490:2017
9 Packaging and labelling
9.1 Packaging
Laundry soap shall be packed in clean, sound and dry containers made of a material which does not
affect the product and which protects the product from excessive loss of moisture and from
contamination.
9.2 Labelling
9.2.1 Bar or cake of laundry soap
Each bar or cake of laundry soaps, whether wrapped or unwrapped, shall be marked with:
(i) trade name or brand name,
(ii) soap grade and
(iii) weight at the time of packaging.
9.2.2 Wrapper
Each wrapper shall be marked or labelled with the following particulars:
a) name and grade of the product and/ or the trade name or brand name, if any;
b) nominal mass of the soap at the time of packaging.
9.2.3 Carton
The carton of laundry soap shall be marked or labelled with the following particulars:
a) name of the product, and the trade name or brand, if any;
b) name and address of manufacturer;
c) batch or code number;
d) nominal mass at the time of packing;
e) number of bars or cakes in the carton;
f) grade;
g) country of origin.
4 © ARSO 2017 — All rights reserved
DARS 490:2017
Annex B
(normative)
Determination of rosin content of fatty mater in soaps
A.1 Scope
This Annex specifies a method for the determination of the rosin content of fatty matter in soaps.
NOTE The following method is not accurate for rosin concentrations below a mass fraction of 5 %.
A.2 Reagents
NOTE Use only analytical grade reagents and distilled water.
A.2.1 Diethyl ether
Free from peroxides.
A.2.2 Sodium chloride
A.2.3 Sodium sulfate
Anhydrous.
A.2.4 Hydrochloric acid solution
Dilute one volume of concentrated hydrochloric acid (density 1.16 g/mL) with two volumes of distilled
water.
A.2.5 Sodium hydroxide solution
10 % mass fraction aqueous solution.
A.2.6 Naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid solution
Dissolve 40 g of naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid in 1 L of absolute methanol.
A.2.7 Sodium chloride solution, saturated
Shake an excess of sodium chloride with water at ambient temperature until no more dissolves. Keep
the solution over solid sodium chloride.
A.2.8 Sodium chloride solution, 10 %
Dissolve 10 g of sodium chloride in 100 mL of water.
A.2.9 Standard ethanolic potassium hydroxide solution, 0.2 N
A.2.9.1 Preparation
Purify 95 % (by volume fraction) ethanol by boiling 1.5 L of it over 20 g of potassium hydroxide for 1 h
under reflux. Distil, discarding the first 50 mL of the distillate and stopping the distillation when
approximately 1.3 L have been distilled. Dissolve 12 g of potassium hydroxide in 1 L of the purified
ethanol, allow the solution to stand for approximately one week, and then decant the clear
supernatant liquid from any potassium carbonate that has precipitated.
© ARSO 2017 — All rights reserved 5
DARS 490:2017
A.2.9.2 Standardization
Accurately weigh out approximately 1 g of potassium hydrogen phthalate (previously dried at 110 °C ±
5 °C for 3 h) into a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask. Add approximately 100 mL of carbon dioxide-free
distilled water and three drops to five drops of the phenolphthalein indicator, and swirl gently until the
solid has dissolved. Titrate the solution with the standard ethanolic potassium hydroxide solution, until
a permanent pink colour is formed.
A.2.9.3 Calculation
Normality of the standard ethanolic potassium hydroxide solution (N):
A 4.897
N
B
where
A is the mass of the potassium hydrogen phthalate, in grams;
B is the volume of the standard ethanolic potassium hydroxide solution used for the
titration, in millilitres.
A.2.10 Methyl orange indicator
Dissolve 0.2 g of methyl orange in 100 mL of carbon dioxide-free water.
A.2.11 Phenolphthalein indicator
Dissolve 0.5 g of phenolphthalein in 100 mL of freshly boiled, 95 % (by volume fraction) ethanol.
A.3 Procedure
A.3.1 Preparation of fatty matter
A.3.1.1 Carbolic soaps
A.[Link] Weigh out accurately into a 600 mL beaker such quantity of the test sample as contains
approximately 40 g of fatty matter and dissolve it in approximately 400 mL of hot water, to which 40
mL of the sodium hydroxide solution has been added.
A.[Link] Salt out the soap by adding sufficient sodium chloride to the hot solution to saturate it (at
ambient temperature) with sodium chloride. Filter the soap quantitatively, and allow it to drain.
A.[Link] Dissolve the drained soap in approximately 400 mL of hot water, and repeat the salting out
and filtering procedure.
A.[Link] Wash the soap thoroughly with the saturated sodium chloride solution, and proceed in
accordance with A.[Link] to A.[Link].
A.[Link] Reserve the combined filtrates and washings for the determination of carbolic acids.
A.3.1.2 Other soaps
A.[Link] Weigh accurately into a 600 mL beaker such quantity of the test sample as contains
approximately 40 g of fatty matter.
A.[Link] Dissolve the soap in approximately 400 mL of hot distilled water, cool the solution, and
slowly add an excess of the hydrochloric acid solution. Cover the beaker with a watch-glass and heat
the contents until the fatty matter separates into a clear layer, but do not allow the temperature to
exceed 60 °C.
6 © ARSO 2017 — All rights reserved
DARS 490:2017
A.[Link] In the cases of liquid and gel soaps, acidify the soap as it is.
A.[Link] Cool to approximately 25 °C and transfer the contents of the beaker to a separating funnel.
Rinse the watch-glass and the beaker with portions of the diethyl ether totalling 100 mL and add them
to the separating funnel. Shake the mixture in the separating funnel vigorously for 1 min, and let it
stand until the two phases have separated.
A.[Link] Draw off and discard the aqueous layer and wash the ether extract with 50 mL portions of
the sodium chloride solution until the last washing is neutral to the methyl orange indicator.
A.[Link] Filter the washed ether extract into a 250 mL beaker through a filter paper containing
approximately 5 g of anhydrous sodium sulfate, and wash the separating funnel and the filter with
small portions of the diethyl ether.
A.[Link] Evaporate the ether extract plus washings on a warm water bath. When the residue is just
dry, heat it rapidly to 130 °C and immediately place the beaker in a desiccator to cool.
NOTE A.[Link] to A.[Link] should be completed in the shortest possible period of time, so as to prevent oxidation of the
fatty acids.
A.3.2 Determination of rosin content
A.3.2.1 Weigh accurately into a 150 mL flask with a ground-glass joint approximately 2 g of the
prepared fatty matter (A.[Link]) and reserve the rest in the case of soap powders for the fatty matter
titre determination.
A.3.2.2 Add exactly 25 mL of the naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid solution to the flask and two or three
glass beads, and boil under reflux for 30 min.
A.3.2.3 Carry out a blank test at the same time, using exactly 25 mL of the naphthalene-2-sulfonic
acid solution only.
A.3.2.4 Cool the contents of both flasks (sample and blank) to ambient temperature, add 0.5 mL of
the phenolphthalein indicator to each flask, and immediately titrate to the end point with the standard
ethanolic potassium hydroxide solution.
A.4 Calculation
Rosin content of fatty matter, as a mass fraction percentage (R):
( A B ) N 34.6
R 1.0
C
where
A is the volume of the standard ethanolic potassium hydroxide solution used for the
titration of the sample solution, in millilitres;
B is the volume of the standard ethanolic potassium hydroxide solution used for the
titration of the blank solution, in millilitres;
N is the normality of the standard ethanolic potassium hydroxide solution;
C is the mass of the fatty matter taken, in grams.
© ARSO 2017 — All rights reserved 7
DARS 490:2017
Annex B
(normative)
Staining test for laundry bar soaps
Two methods are described.
B.1 Method 1: Undissolved Powder (5.0 % Product concentration)
B.1.1 Principle
Test pieces of cloth of defined area are rubbed with soap and then dipped in water overnight then
scrubbed and rinsed in running water.
B.1.2 Materials
Pieces of white cotton, nylon and Crimplene C cloth.
B.1.3 Procedure
NOTE The staining test is conducted in triplicate for all cloth types.
B.1.3.1 Rub evenly about 10 g of soap over a 15 cm x 7.5 cm test swatch placed on a china plate.
B.1.3.2 Pour gently 50 ml of hot water (approximately 55 °C) into the plate so that the test swatch is
covered and left overnight (16 h).
B.1.3.3 Hand rub the swatch 10 times and then rinse each of the three test swatches are rinsed twice
in about 2 litres of water and then dried in the drier.
B.2 Method 2: Pre-dissolved Soap (2.5 % Product concentration)
B.2.1 Principle
The method involves subjecting fabrics to prolonged soaking in a highly concentrated soap solution.
B.2.2 Materials
Pieces of white cotton, nylon and Crimplene C cloth of dimension 15 cm x 7.5 cm
B.2.3 Procedure
NOTE The staining test should be conducted in triplicate for all cloth types.
B.2.3.1 Weight 10 g of soap in a honey jar and then add 200 ml of hot water at a temperature of
approximately 60 °C, shake until when the soap is thoroughly dissolved.
B.2.3.2 Place a test swatch A 15 cm x 7.5 cm in the soap solution (B.2.3.1) and allow to stand
overnight.
B.2.3.3 Transfer the test swatch in a bowl containing 1 litre of water and then agitate vigorously by
hand for 10 s.
B.2.3.4 Rinse the test swatches in 5 litres of water by hand. The times should be fixed for all washes,
and then dry swatches.
8 © ARSO 2017 — All rights reserved
DARS 490:2017
Annex C
(normative)
Sampling and inspection
C.1 Lot and batch
C.1.1 Batch
The soap is from one vat or pan. In the continuous production process, the soap from one day’s
production shall constitute a batch.
C.1.2 Lot
In a single consignment, all packages containing laundry soap bars or cakes drawn from the same
batch of production shall constitute a lot.
C.2 Sampling
C.2.1 For ascertaining the conformity of the lot to the requirements of this standard, tests shall be
carried out on each lot separately. The number of packages and product units from each container
respectively to be selected for drawing the sample shall be in accordance with Table C.1.
Table C.1 — Guidance for sampling
Number of packages (cartons) in the Number of containers Number of product units to be
lot (cartons) to be selected from each container
selected
N
n
4 – 15 3 3
16 – 40 4 4
41 – 65 5 2
66 – 110 7 2
111 and above 10 1
C.2.2 The packages (cartons) shall be selected at random, using tables of random numbers. If
these are not available, the following procedure shall be applied:
Starting from any package, count all the packages in one order as 1, 2, 3 ...., N, selecting every kth
package, where k is the integral part of N n.
From each package thus selected, draw at random an equal number of cakes so as to obtain a total
mass of at least 2 kg.
C.2.3 Inspection — Inspect the cakes selected for compliance with the requirements specified
under table1 and performance requirements.
© ARSO 2017 — All rights reserved 9
DARS 490:2017
© ARSO 2017 — All rights reserved
