Lye
A lye is an
Today, lye is commercially manufactured using a
Etymology
The English word
Uses
Food
Lyes are used to
In the
Soap
Both sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are used in making soap. Potassium hydroxide soaps are softer and more easily dissolved in water than sodium hydroxide soaps. Sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are not interchangeable in either the proportions required or the properties produced in making soaps.
"Hot process" soap making also uses lye as the main ingredient. Lye is added to water, cooled for a few minutes and then added to oils and butters. The mixture is then cooked over a period of time (1–2 hours), typically in a slow cooker, and then placed into a mold.
Household
Lyes are also valued for their cleaning effects. Sodium hydroxide is commonly the major constituent in commercial and industrial
Tissue digestion
Sodium or potassium hydroxide can be used to digest tissues of animal carcasses. Often referred to as
Fungus identification
A 3–10% solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH) gives a color change in some species of mushrooms:
- In Agaricus, some species such as A. xanthodermus turn yellow with KOH, many have no reaction, and A. subrutilescens turns green.
- Distinctive change occurs for some species of boletes
Safety
This section needs additional citations for verification. (November 2014) |
First aid
Sources recommend immediate removal of contaminated clothing/materials, gently brushing/wiping excess off of skin, and then flushing the area of exposure with running water for 15–60 minutes while contacting emergency services.[14]
Protection
Personal protective equipment including safety glasses, chemical-resistant gloves, and adequate ventilation are required for the safe handling of lye. When in proximity to lye that is dissolving in an open container of water, the use of a vapor-resistant face mask is recommended. Adding lye too quickly can cause a runaway thermal reaction which can result in the mixture boiling or erupting.
Storage
Lye in its solid state is
Hazardous reactions
The majority of safety concerns with lye are also common with most corrosives, such as their potentially destructive effects on
The reaction between sodium hydroxide and some metals is also hazardous.
See also
- Slaked lime(calcium hydroxide)
References
- ^ "How to make lye". wikiHow. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Garms, Gabe (9 December 2015). "Turning your wood ash into lye for soap making". Raven’s Roots Naturalist School. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ISBN 978-0-06-270084-1.
- ^ "Puto". Rice Recipes. Philippine Rice Research Institute. Archived from the original on 25 November 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ^ "Food Chemicals Codex".
- ^ a b "FD&C Act Chapter IV: Food". US Food and Drug Administration. 3 November 2018.
- ^ Ayres, Chris (27 February 2010), "Clean green finish that sends a loved one down the drain", The Times, retrieved 20 February 2013
- ^ a b Thacker, H. Leon; Kastner, Justin (August 2004), "Chapter 6" (PDF), Carcass Disposal: A Comprehensive Review, National Agricultural Biosecurity Center, Kansas State University, archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2009, retrieved 8 March 2010
- ^ Saqib Mukhtar; Frederick O. Boadu; Yanhong H. Jin; Won-Bo Shim; Tom A.Vestal; Cody L. Wilson (17 July 2009). "Managing Contaminated Animal and Plant Materials Field Guide on Best Practices" (PDF). Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service. pp. 233–259. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
- ^ Wilson, Joseph H. "The History of Alkaline Hydrolysis" (PDF). Joseph H. Wilson. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
- ISBN 0-393-32482-6.
- ^ "Sodium: Getting rid of dirt - and murder victims". BBC News. 3 May 2014.
- Washington Post.
- ^ "Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety". CCOHS. 20 May 2022.
Further reading
- McDaniel, Robert (1997). The Elegant Art of Handmade Soap: Making, Scenting, Coloring, and Shaping. Iola, WI: Krause Publications. ISBN 0-87341-832-8.
External links
- "Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act". US Food and Drug Administration.
- "Food Chemicals Codex". United States Pharmacopeia. Archived from the original on 1 February 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2008.