BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Soapmaking Saponification and Glycerin

I have a group of friends that are making biodiesel (from spent restaurant cooking oil) to run their vehicles. Glycerin and Lye are byproducts of this process. I have noticed in this and related sites that glycerin is ultimately derived from various oils while heating (saponification), and I wondered what the advantages/disadvantages of using straight glycerin and Lye might be? Is the material I am speaking of essentially saponified(sp?)already?

Thank You

I've been thinking about this and honestly I don't think I can advise you one way or another. I have no idea what kind of chemists ya'll are. Personally, from my own perspective, I think I would leave this to professionals. If you are professional chemists and you really know what you're doing, that's a little different.

ok.. I see where my post was very confusing.
We want to make soap out of the glycerin and lye that is left over from the process. I am wondering if I have glycerin and lye, do I have the basic ingredients for making soap?
Sorry I didnt even make that remotely understood in the first post.