MANILA, Philippines - Here’s a new product developed from seaweed: bath soap.
Simply named “Seaweed Bath Soap”, it is the product of a research project titled “Seaweed Gel Extract Product Formulation and Development” conducted by Rogelio M. Estacio of the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU). DMMMSU is a multi-campus university in La Union whose seat of administration is the main campus in Sapilang, Bacnotan.
The results of the study were presented at a recent forum sponsored by the Los Baños, Laguna-based Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (DOST-PCAMRD) on the occasion of its 23rds anniversary celebration.
PCAMRD is the R&D council of DOST that coordinates, monitors, and evaluates aquatic and marine R&D activities in the country. It is currently headed by OIC-Executive Director Cesario Pagdilao.
The DMMMSU conducted the study to explore the use of low-grade seaweeds such as eucheuma, gracilaria, and sargassum that are rejected by processors or exporters.
The viability of producing bath soap out of seaweeds is expected to lead to the generation of employment opportunities by creating small and medium enterprises in coastal communities as livelihood projects of fishfarmers, housewives, out-of-school-youths, and jobless adults.
For the research, seaweed gel, papaya, atsuete, and coconut oil were used as primary ingredients.
These were mixed to produce a thick solution, which was placed in a molder, cooled and solidified at room temperature, aged, and packaged.
The product was taken to the DOST-Cagayan Valley Herbal Processing Plant in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, for testing and bioassay or laboratory analysis. It subsequently was subjected to sensory evaluation by DMMMSU faculty and staff members and students.