Extracting Sodium Hydroxide from Soap

[g_midford]

is it possible to extract sodium hydroxide from liquid soap? i need to test the sodium hydroxide. if it is possible, how would i do it?

 

[qalomel]

A solution of bases extracted from soap will probably end up primarily as a mixture of NaOH and KOH. As Borek mentioned, it's not really possible to tell the difference between different bases, especially in this case since potassium and sodium in solution are so chemically similar to each other. The only way I can think of differentiating between the two analytically is through spectroscopy.

 

[g_midford]

qalomel, there is no koh in this soap

 

[qalomel]

If there's no KOH and assuming that there aren't any other bases aside from NaOH in the soap, can't you just test the NaOH directly in dissolved soap without extracting it?