TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to soap, or soap-making preparations especially adapted for methods or apparatus for disinfection or sterilization.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The antimicrobial bamboo charcoal hand soap of the present invention is developed as antimicrobial products from forest-based materials, pursuant to the Republic Act 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act”, which can help contribute to the prevention and protection of people against the coronavirus. Maintaining personal hygiene, such as thorough washing and sanitizing of hands, is deemed an important step in preventing the spread of diseases. As COVID-19 cases continue to escalate in the country, more ways to help protect the public against this global pandemic should be observed.

Forest-based materials like the non-timber forest products such as bamboo has antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis. Bamboo charcoal has strong decomposition and adsorption ability to deeply clean the dirt and remove germs and other bacteria-causing disease. The rich minerals in bamboo charcoal penetrate into the cells and effectively restore the normal activities of cells.

Another class of antibacterial agents, which are useful in the present invention, are the so called “natural” antibacterial agents, referred to as natural essential oils as source of fragrance from Manila elemi resin, eucalyptus, and citronella. An antimicrobial bamboo charcoal hand soap with Manila elemi oil has bioactivity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Candida tropicalis. CN 102864055 discloses a bamboo charcoal soap belonging to the field of a daily chemical product. The bamboo charcoal soap includes the components of natural soap powders, bamboo charcoal powders, a flavoring agent, a curing agent and distilled water. According to the bamboo charcoal soap disclosed by the invention, dirt of a pore and excessive oil can be thoroughly cleaned; the bamboo charcoal soap can moisturize the skin, sterilize and diminish inflammation, also can effectively promote blood circulation and metabolism and remove fatigue; the bamboo charcoal soap also has the effects of whitening and lubricating the skin and tightening the skin after being used for a long time, can activate the cell, removes aging cuticle, keeps the skin tender and smooth, has the effects of deodorization, sterilization and disinfection, and also has certain prevention and treatment effects on skin diseases.

CN105713751 A relates to bamboo charcoal handmade soap and a preparation technology thereof. The bamboo charcoal handmade soap comprises a formula main ingredient and a formula auxiliary ingredient. The formula main ingredient comprises the following components in percentages by mass: 85-97% of a vegetable oil soap base and 1-10% of bamboo charcoal powder. The formula auxiliary ingredient comprises the following components in percentages by mass:1- 5% of bamboo vinegar, 0.1-1.5% of a chamomile extracting solution and 0.01-

0.05% of rose essential oil.

CN106833974A discloses a kind of bamboo charcoal handmade soap that addresses oil control and acne removal and preparation method thereof. The described bamboo charcoal handmade soap includes soap base and acne- removing composition, wherein the acne-removing composition contains each component of following mass parts : 0.1 2 parts of Japanese cypress leaf, 0.1 1 parts of bamboo charcoal, 0.1 2 parts of 4 terpineol. Described bamboo charcoal handmade soap can play a part of to kill vermiform mite, oil control and acne removal, with instant effect, have no toxic side effect, strong with skin affinity, safety, the characteristics of comfortable non-stimulated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention improves upon the prior art by providing an antimicrobial bamboo charcoal hand soap and its preparation method. The antimicrobial bamboo charcoal hand soap is a nature-based soap with natural based materials like coconut oil and palm oil and with forest-based materials like Manila elemi oil, eucalyptus oil, and in combination or blended with other fragrance oils. The high- quality bamboo charcoal is made through processing from the pyrolysis of bamboo, which is the primary material used for the soap taught by this invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with examples. The following implementations are carried out in accordance with the bio efficacy testing of the formulated antimicrobial bamboo charcoal hand soaps. Example 1 :

The bamboo charcoal was produced from the pyrolysis of Bambusa blumeana Schult with moisture content of < 10%, fixed carbon content of 55.28%, volatile combustible matter content of 27.26% and ash content of 17.47%; and heating value of 4426.11 cal/g. The bamboo charcoal is a high-quality charcoal manufactured using bamboo charcoal kiln.

The antimicrobial bamboo charcoal hand soap is prepared by saponification of the coconut oil and palm oil with sodium hydroxide. Thorough mixing of the oils and lye in a stainless container will be done, until it becomes more viscous. The main active ingredient from Bambusa blumeana Schult is added to the mixture and mixed for several minutes. The mixture is poured into the soap molders and left overnight or until said mixture hardens. The soap is then cut into the desired size and undergoes curing for 3 to 4 weeks.

The hand soap has bioactivity against Bacillus subtilis with zone of inhibition of 22mm and Candida tropicalis with zone of inhibition of 14mm. The essential oil used as fragrance, Manila elemi oil, has bioactivity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Candida tropicalis.

Example 2:

The bamboo charcoal was produced from the pyrolysis of Bambusa vulgaris Schrad with moisture content of <10%, fixed carbon content of 82.62%, volatile combustible matter content of 11.61 % and ash content of 5.76%, and heating value of 7151.01 cal/g. The bamboo charcoal is a high-quality charcoal manufactured using bamboo charcoal kiln.

The antimicrobial bamboo charcoal hand soap is prepared by saponification of the coconut oil and palm oil with sodium hydroxide. Thorough mixing of the oils and lye in a stainless container is done until mixture becomes more viscous. The main active ingredient from Bambusa vulgaris Schrad is added to the mixture and mixed for several minutes. The mixture is then poured into soap molders and left overnight or until said mixture hardens. The soap is then cut into the desired size and undergoes curing for 3 to 4 weeks. The soap bars are then packed after curing, and the outer cover labeled properly with patterns and text instructions on the packaging materials.

The hand soap from this invention has bioactivity against Bacillus subtilis with average zone of inhibition of 21 5mm. The essential oil used as fragrance, Manila elemi oil, has bioactivity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Candida tropicalis. The hand soap of this invention has the following preferred percentage weight ratios: bamboo charcoal powder, 0.60%; coconut oil, 39.40%; palm oil, 34. 69%; caustic soda, 25.28%; and essential oils, 20-30 drops.

The moisture content of the raw materials are all <10%. The bamboo charcoal from Bambusa blumeana Schult and Bambusa vulgaris Schrad is preferably over 4 to 5 years before being harvested. The preferred embodiment of this invention is described in the above-mentioned detailed description. It is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive modifications and/or variations to the embodiment shown and described therein. Any such modifications or variations that fall within the purview of this description are intended to be included therein as well. Unless specifically noted, it is the intention of the inventors that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meanings to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art. The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention known to the applicant at the time of filing the application has been presented and is intended for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in the light of the above teachings.