Body cleansing effervescent soap tablets developed by Thai researchers

06 Nov 2023 --- A team of Thai researchers have developed Asiatic-Acid-Loaded Solid Lipid Microparticles (AASLMs) which turn into liquid soap when dissolved in water for bathing. The researchers promote portability as the product’s key advantage and travelers as a potential customer base.

The study was conducted by an international team at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and Chiang Mai University in Thailand and published in the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute’s journal Cosmetics in September.

The AASLMs tablets are prepared through “a hot emulsification method followed by cold re-solidification and then freeze-dried to obtain dry powder,” the paper states.

The new AASLMs tablets are said to have been developed using a direct compression technique and tested to ensure the excipients are compatible with the active ingredient using a compatibility test. The easily portable effervescent tablets turn into liquid soap when dissolved in water, which can be used to bathe.

Science of fizzy functional soap
Following the direct compression development of the AASLMs effervescent tablets, their physicochemical characteristics and cleansing efficacy were analyzed as part of the study. The weight of each tablet was set to 1,000 mg.

The tablets contain effervescent components, including citric acid and sodium bicarbonate, which facilitate the release of carbon dioxide bubbles when interacting with water, thus prompting the disintegration of the tablet.

The 1:3 acid-to-base ratio was found to result in the highest cleanliness between the different tested variations. 

The stability study revealed that the tablets’ properties are compromised when exposed to high temperatures and humidity. For this reason, it is recommended that the effervescent tablets are not to be stored at a high temperature.

The researchers further recommend packaging containing desiccant agents inside the cover that can enhance the stability of the tablets, which is especially needed under varying storage conditions. 

Packaging solutions such as polypropylene (PP) tubes and impermeable containers like sachets or blister packs are highlighted as helpful in reducing the risk of moisture, oxidation and other potential risk factors to ensure the product quality.

By Milana Nikolova