Fat + sodium hydroxide----->Sodium higher fatty acid + glycerin.
Sodium hydroxide is soda ash, and soap and glycerin can be obtained after saponification reaction.
"Kaogong Ji" records that in order to make the silk soft and white, the ancients wetted the silk with plant ash water, put in the ash of burned shells (the ancients called it "mirage"), and soaked it in water. This is because plant ash water and shell ash can react to produce a strong alkali - potassium hydroxide.
The Han people already knew how to use natural stone soda to wash clothes. The Jin people added starch and spices to the stone alkali and made it into tablets for sale. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, shops specializing in selling artificial rosine were opened in Beijing. Among them, "Hexianglou" and "Huahanchong" were still selling boxed peach-shaped and gourd-shaped rosettes until the beginning of liberation.
You can use some seaweed to make soda ash in a local way, but if that doesn't work, there is still a natural alkali lake.
In ancient China, dilute sulfuric acid was called green vitriol oil. From 650 to 683 AD (during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty), the alchemist Gu Gangzi recorded in Volume 9 of his book "Jiuding Shendan Jingjue of the Yellow Emperor" that "Stone Refining Gallbladder Essence Method", and distillation of stone gallbladder (gall vitriol) to obtain sulfuric acid.
The method is not difficult. Dilute sulfuric acid can be purified by heating. Nitric acid can be obtained by heating and distilling saltpeter, but the temperature must be high and the sealing must be good.
However, it can only be produced on a small scale and does not have the conditions for mass production.
Soap can also be supplied on a small scale. After all, many ordinary people cannot afford soap, but the price must be carefully considered. The cost is high, so it can be sold as a luxury product, which adds an extra income.
The small-scale production of nitroglycerin is enough to treat diseases. Making gunpowder is not Zheng Xiong's consideration now.
After clarifying his thoughts, he told everyone at the pharmacy that ice made from saltpeter could be used to cool down the ward in the summer.
The warehouse in the backyard was occupied, and Zheng Xiong hurriedly ran to the glass factory with Ergou.
When I think of soap, my scalp feels itchy. No matter how much I take care of my hair every day, it seems like it can't be taken care of cleanly. It's a little oily and can't be cut unless you become a monk.
Arriving at the glass factory, Zheng Xiong ordered two people to come out.
"You two go buy me a pot, buy some lard, and some soda soda. Get some money from the glass factory. Go back quickly."
"Yes, sir."
Seeing that Zheng Xiong was more anxious, the two of them did not dare to neglect, went to pay the money, and set off.
"You two build a stove for me, I want to use it."
Zheng Xiong casually ordered two more people, and after receiving the order, they quickly started working.
After giving the instructions, Zheng Xiong walked around the glass factory. The leader inspected the glass factory. Except for those who were busy making glass, all the employees of the glass factory followed Zheng Xiong, preparing to answer Zheng Xiong's questions.
In the corner, there is a pile of fired glass. If you look closely, you can see that there are still some grayish-white colors, which are not up to Zheng Xiong's standards.
Zheng Xiong didn't have much interest, but there were some glass jars that aroused Zheng Xiong's interest.
Picking one up casually, it looks a bit like a vase, with low light transmittance, some purple, and a hint of off-white. If the off-white color hadn't affected the overall beauty, Zheng Xiong could have sold this vase made of glass for at least a hundred dollars. Guan, now it's heavily discounted, selling a dozen or so Guan would be a huge deal.
"This vase is nice, how did you come up with it?"
"Sir, this vase is made from excess glass solution fired in the boiler. We have a few old employees here from the Liulic Factory. Seeing that it would be a waste to just leave it like this, we randomly blew these glass bottles."
The glass factory does not yet have a person in charge. The person who stood up and spoke out was an old man with considerable prestige in the glass factory. He had previously worked in Liulichang, and his skills were among the best among this group of people.
"Yes, it's much better than those at the pharmacy. They know how to take the initiative. Who did these? Come forward and let me see."
"Sir, it was us who did it."
Three people came out of the team. They were all older. They were in their thirties or forties, which made them look a bit old. However, if there was no talent in this matter of technology, then the older they got, the more popular they became. For no other reason than that.
Only if you are familiar with it.
Seeing a few people, Zheng Xiong nodded. They seemed to be relatively honest and honest people, and they still had their own subjective initiative, which could be cultivated.
"You guys will get an extra month's salary this month, but you will have to blow me a few glass bottles every day and sell them to test the water."
When they heard that they could get an extra month's salary, several people were very happy and quickly agreed. The people around them also showed envious expressions. At the same time, there were also a few people who looked annoyed, because they knew this skill, but it was a pity that they were fishing for themselves.
After promising a salary, Zheng Xiong looked at the old man and said to him.
"What's your name? If you were asked to look after the glass factory, would you be able to do it well?"
"Sir, my name is Wang Zheng. If you trust me, I can give it a try."
"Then it's up to you. I will officially appoint you as the director of the glass factory. I will leave all the affairs of the glass factory to you. In addition to your appointment and dismissal of personnel and the signature of the purchase and sale of goods, you need to report to me. You can do the rest. It’s all up to you to decide.”
"Also, don't be too quick to be happy if you get double your salary from now on. Whether you can continue doing it depends on your ability. If you can't manage this glass factory well, I'm going to replace you."
Who doesn't know how to fish? It's not your own business anyway, so you can do whatever you want. As long as you can develop in the direction you want, it's the same for everyone. It feels quite satisfying to be a hands-off shopkeeper.
"In the past two days, you can rent a shop in the inner city. You can sell the blown glass here. Although there are some flaws, this integrated glass bottle is much better than those small objects made of polished crystal. They look much better, so I’ll price them at ten guan each and put them in the store to try out the water.”
"By the way, it's better to buy more raw materials, get more glass every day, and blow it into round cups. I can use it."
"Sir, I will remember this."
Zheng Xiong still had some unfinished thoughts. This feeling of being surrounded by stars and scolding Fang Qiu was really good. No wonder so many people like power.
However, all the things Zheng Xiong ordered to buy and sell were already in place at this time, and the stove had been set up and wrapped in mud.
After everyone went to work, Zheng Xiong came to the stove and several errand boys stayed to help.
I lit the stove, brushed the pot, put lard in it, and mixed it with alkaline water made from soda ash. I used a wooden stick to stir it, and the pungent smell came up when I scratched it. Fortunately, the stove was set up outside, otherwise There may still be problems.
As the temperature increased, Zheng Xiong slowly added alkaline water, at a ratio of about one to three.
I didn't plan to bake a large amount, I just experimented first to see the effect. After adding the alkaline water, I slowly added some water to it and stirred it for several hours. From noon to evening, the upper layer began to solidify gradually, and the lower layer began to solidify. Glycerol separation.
Just scoop it out and put it into the water glass, wait for it to solidify and form, and the soap will be ready.
Find a jar with the remaining glycerin and seal it with wax.
After dismissing the few people who had been busy all day, Zheng Xiong ran home with soap in hand.
