Formula Optimization of Antimicrobial Hand Sanitizer With Lemongrass Essential Oil

Abstract

During the covid-19 pandemics, the government required people to comply with health protocols. Some health protocol demands are such as using masks and maintaining personal sanitation independently. The application of sanitation and hygiene aims to protect the public from the covid-19 virus. Independently, people are encouraged to wash their hands well before and after doing all kinds of activities. In terms of sanitation needs, hand sanitizer is considered to play an essential role because of its practicality to be carried everywhere. However, with so many people trying to make hand sanitizers, making hand sanitizers quality cannot be assured. Therefore, this study aims to create an optimal hand sanitizer formula. The study was conducted by comparing three basic liquid hand sanitizer formulas. The basic formula consists of alcohol 73%, aquadest 19.57%, and glycerine 0.83%. Differences between the three formulas are in the essential s oils 6.6% (Formula 1: Citronella, Formula 2: Lemongrass, Formula 3: Citrus). The formula was then tested physically and organoleptically to identify the quality of the hand sanitizer produced. Test results were compared to each other to obtain the most optimal formula. The result of organoleptic, PH test, homogeneity test and the favourite test showed that the best formula was formula number 3. Formula number 3 showed good clarity, fresh and had distinctiveness essential oils aroma on hand. Based on these results, formula 3 was continued with microbiology testing. The microbiological test was carried out with inhibition zone observation: well inhibition methods and bacteria-killing power. Microbiological tests showed the similarity of average inhibition zones (0.3039 mm) with the market product (0.3178 mm) and average bacteria-killing power of product (77.6%) higher than market product (67.1%). This result showed that there was Hand sanitizer with lemongrass oil had similar effectivity to killing bacteria.