1.1 Introduction
Soap is a cleansing agent. It cleanses by lowering the surface tension of water, by emulsifying grease, and by absorbing dirt into the foam. Ancient peoples are believed to have employed wood ashes and water for washing and to have relieved the resulting irritation with grease or oil. Conceptually, many people consider that an antimicrobial potion of soaps is effective at preventing communicable diseases. But now researchers highlight that too much of it can have the opposite effect spreading diseases/infections instead of preventing them (Levy, 2001; Poole, 2002).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Soap is a class of products that serves for cleaning of human, property and surrounding. Hence, soap in its various forms, is in high demand in all society. For generations its use has increased until its manufacture has become an industry essential to the comfort and health of civilized man. In fact, modern civilization may be gauged by the per capital consumption of soap and detergents.
Soap a classical example of detergent (cleaning agent) – differs from detergent in processes of manufacture and chemical composition. These result in differences in action.
Soap depends for its washing action on the fact that its molecules possess one ionic (polar, water – attracting or hydrophilic) end and one covalent (non-polar, water repelling or hydrophobic) end which attracts oils and greases. Thus, soap molecules can make water and oils come into an emulsion which can be washed away. This is the modern concepts of surface active agents or surfactants; soap, detergents, emulsifiers, wetting agents and penetrants.
Soap is not, however, satisfactory, as it forms a scum (precipitate of insoluble calcium and magnesium salts) in hard and acidic waters. Synthetic detergents, on the other hand, do not form a scum in hard or acidic water as their calcium and magnesium salts are solute, are usually more soluble in water than soap is; enable water to spread and penetrate more fully over or through an article being cleaned and can generally be used equally well under alkaline or acidic conditions.
Soaps are essentially the sodium or potassium salts of various fatty acids, while detergents are very complex mixtures of many substances, all chosen to impact a particular action in cleaning. The polar end of the detergent molecule consists of sulphonic acid ( - SO3H) or hydrogen sulphate (-OSO3H) group present in the form of its sodium salt to increase solubility. The non-polar end of the detergent molecule is a long alkyl – substituted benzene chain. Extensively branched chains are not biochemically degradable and such detergents cause pollution in rivers and sea wage waters.
Soap also contains additives for some desired qualities. These include salt, soda ash, sodium silicate, sodium bicarbonate, perfume, colour, citric acid, borax, magnesium sulphate, and trisodium phosphate. A combination of inexpensive builders, e.g. soda ash with more effective (and expensive) tetrasoium pyrophosphate or sodium triphasphate, is sometimes superior to the phasphate used alone.
Although the use of soap has declined since World War II, majority of the world’s toilet tablets are still soap, and in the developing countries hard soap bars are still the most important fabric washing products. Also, a substantial proportion of the fabric – washing powder used in the United Kingdom is soap powder. Other uses of soaps are in textile finishing, emulsion polymerization, cosmetics and polishes.
Basically, all soap is made by saponification, that is the hydrolysis of naturally occurring fats and oil by sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) or potassium hydroxide (caustic potash). Various additives have been used to impact some specific characteristics to the products.
The qualities and properties affecting soap and also the processing (which forms the basis of this project) depend on factors such as the nature and type of oil used, the type of alkali used and also on the proportion of mixture of both major raw materials.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to compare the Antibacterial Activity of Three Selected Soap (Septol, Detol and Tetmasol).
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation reveals the problems of the research work which entails the wide spread availability of the so called medicated soaps; a number of communicable infectious and food borne diseases as well as poor hygienic conditions related health problems are rampant. This can partially be explained by the fact that, occasionally some of these antimicrobial consumer products could have insufficient quantities of antimicrobials. It seems to be more of a marketing phenomenon. Unfortunately, in the long run may adversely affect the consumers, because overuse of these agents can ascribe to the emergence of drug resistant microorganisms (Russell, 1998; Beinlich et al. 2001; White, 2001).
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to compare the Antibacterial Activity of Septol, Detol and Tetmasol Soap. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To identify the bacteria commonly present on the human skin
- To compare the effectiveness of Septol, Detol and Tetmasol Soap on the bacteria isolates obtained from the skin.
1.5 Significance of Study
The significant of this study tends to connect the relationship that has to do with cleanliness and health. It tend to provide good health to people by ensuring a well and thorough cleaning or bathing of their body. This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.6 Scope of Study
The study focuses on the Comparative Study of Antibacterial Activity of Three Selected Soap using Septol, Detol and Tetmasol as a case study.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).
