Liquid soap and cosmetic products are being produced from Lake Van water.

Bitlis Eren University (BEÜ) has made significant progress in the production of liquid soap, which started 1.5 years ago using water from Lake Van, moving into mass production and obtaining the patent for the soap.

BEÜ’s Vocational School in the Organized Industrial Zone can produce 3 tons of liquid soap daily as needed within the framework of research and development (R&D) activities. In addition to liquid soap, solid soap and some cosmetic products can also be produced in the workshop established within the university. The liquid soaps produced under the ‘Liquid Soap Production from Lake Van Water’ project, which was initiated 1.5 years ago, have received a patent.

Within the scope of the project, water from Lake Van, collected by tanker from the coast of Tatvan district in Bitlis, is brought to the university campus and left to sit for one day. Afterward, liquid soap is produced following mixtures and processes carried out in the BEÜ Soap Production Workshop. Prof. Dr. Necmettin Elmastaş, the Rector of BEÜ, who examined the work done in the workshop located in the Rahva campus of BEÜ, stated, “We created the ‘Beren’ brand for the solid and liquid products we produce from Lake Van water, obtained the patent this year, and moved into mass production of liquid soap. Our studies on solid soap production and some creams are also ongoing. We aim to contribute to the economy by producing many products under the Beren brand. The difference of the Beren brand from other products and brands is that our products are entirely produced from the soda water of Lake Van. Therefore, there is a distinction in this regard. The soda water of Lake Van is very economical and needs to be purified, especially in the production of liquid detergent. It requires some costs during certain processes. However, we can directly take this water and use it. There is such an advantage. We have registered this brand as a university and are currently producing it ourselves. We are looking for a producer who will produce this product in a way that will reach a wider audience throughout Turkey and perhaps later on an international level. We have had some discussions in this regard. Therefore, we want to spread this not only in our city and region but all over Turkey with an entrepreneur. If this product can contribute economically to both our city and our university, we want it to be presented as a different product obtained from natural resources in Turkey. We want to realize this with one or more entrepreneurs in this regard,” he said.

Project coordinator Dr. Erhan Onat stated, “Lake Van water is a unique water in the production of cosmetic materials. Because all the properties sought for a solvent in the production of tactile materials naturally exist in Lake Van water. The first important point is that it does not require any additional costs. The second is that you are using very natural and natural chemicals. Because perhaps about 20% of the chemicals you use while producing cleaning or cosmetic materials are found naturally in Lake Van. We identified this in our analyses. With the encouragement of our rector, we started these R&D studies. We have completed the first stage for liquid soap production, and we are currently producing other materials. We have completed the first stage for liquid soap production,” he expressed.

Describing the production stages, Dr. Onat said, “We filter the water we have taken and let it sit for about 24 hours. Then we filter it and start to use it. We use over 80% Lake Van water and reduce the solvent ratio according to the situation. The properties of Lake Van water are found naturally in our liquid soap. This is also available as a result of the research. Whether it is the effect on the skin or the hair structure, it is naturally present in our soap. We have not encountered any side effects, and we have not seen anything in our analyses. We are continuing the necessary studies for the rapid introduction of this soap to our region. Depending on the demands, we can produce two tons daily in our workshop.”