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Chemical analysis and utilization of 'Khaar'

Abstract

Samples of 'khaar' from different areas were analysed quali-tatively and quantitatively. Sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and silicone were found to be the major cations, while carbonate, sulphate and chloride were the major anions present in all the samples. Traces of zinc, molybdenum, copper, manganese, arsenic and boron were also found. A formulation consisting of 55% of water soluble part of ‘khaar' 30% nansaw powder and 15% of trisodium phosphate, though did not give good lather but was found to be significantly equivalent to 'surf' in its detersive efficiency and was three times cheaper than isurf'. INTRODUCTION 'Khaar' or 'miff is a product which is obtained by solidifying the thick liquid given out by burning the plant, Suaeda fruticosa, commonly called as 'lama'. Vast natural growths of this plant are found in Cholistan and Tharpar. kar deserts and to some extent in Baluchistan and Punjab. Presently, 'khaar' is used by villagers as a sheap soap substitute and in boilers where it checks scale formation and maintains pH. In Pakistan, no survey has yet been made about the total area covered by Suaeda fruticosa or of the annual production of `khaar' made from it. A number of workers have investigated the various aspects of Suaeda fruticosa (Shah, 1967; A1-Ani et al., 1971) and other plants of the genus Suaeda (Rajpurui ohit and Son, 1978), but no studies have so fir been reported on the chemical composition of IChaar' obtained from Suaeda fruticosa found in Pakistan. Keeping in view the economic importance of ‘Ichaftr' it was planned to analyse it for its better exploitation.

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