Virtual Booth

ABSTRACT — RE-SOAP

Sekolah Agama Menengah Tinggi Sultan Hisamuddin (SAMTSH) has a designated recycling area that promotes recycling practices within the school community. Among the recyclable waste materials, used cooking oil has the potential to be repurposed into useful products instead of being discarded. Improper disposal of used cooking oil into sinks or drains can cause clogged drainage systems and water pollution, while poor waste management may affect environmental cleanliness. Therefore, RE-SOAP was introduced as an innovative solution to utilise used cooking oil from the school's recycling area, reduce waste, and promote environmental awareness among students and the school community.

RE-SOAP is an innovative soap product developed using recycled used cooking oil and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The uniqueness of this innovation lies in transforming used cooking oil into a useful product through the saponification process, a chemical reaction between oil and sodium hydroxide that produces soap. This innovation integrates elements of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through scientific experimentation, accurate material measurements, formulation development, and product design.

The production process of RE-SOAP involves collecting and filtering used cooking oil, preparing a sodium hydroxide solution using distilled water, and carefully combining both ingredients. The mixture is stirred thoroughly, poured into moulds, and left to harden and undergo an appropriate curing process. Through this process, used cooking oil collected from the school's recycling area can be transformed into soap, giving the waste material a new purpose. RE-SOAP also provides students with opportunities to explore chemical reactions, apply STEM knowledge, and develop innovative products through practical experimentation.

This innovation provides benefits to students, schools, communities, and the environment. At SAMTSH, RE-SOAP provides a practical way to utilise used cooking oil collected in the recycling area while encouraging responsible waste management. The project also enhances students' understanding of STEM concepts through hands-on learning experiences involving chemical experiments, measurements, product design, and problem-solving skills. Furthermore, it encourages creativity, teamwork, critical thinking, and environmental responsibility among students.

From an environmental perspective, RE-SOAP promotes sustainable practices by reusing used cooking oil, potentially reducing improper oil disposal and its harmful environmental impacts. Economically, the innovation creates an opportunity to produce a value-added product from waste materials. Furthermore, this project supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, through waste reduction and resource reuse, as well as SDG 4: Quality Education, by nurturing knowledgeable, creative, and skilled students capable of developing sustainable solutions for the well-being of the community and the environment.