Prima Astuti Handayani, Nadya Alfa Cahaya Imani, Maharani Kusumaningrum, Hanif Ardhiansyah, Achmad Wikandaru, Tedhy Pikrihaikal, Elfira Dwi Cahyani, Samara Muna Lismawati
The use of chemical pesticides negatively impacts the environment, health, and ecosystems, necessitating safer alternatives such as biopesticides. This study aimed to determine the effects and optimal conditions of pH, temperature, and coating-to-oil ratio on the distribution and encapsulation size result. Encapsulation was done by dissolving, gum Arabic as coating agent in water and mixed at 50 °C. This solution was then combined with citronella oil and vigorously mixed. pH and temperature of the solution were adjusted to form microdroplets. Finally, a crosslinking agent was added to solidify the droplets, and they were further processed to remove air bubbles. Response Surface Methodology was employed to optimize the distribution and encapsulation size, resulting optimum conditions were achieved at pH 5, coating to oil ratio of 1.159:1 (gum arabic to essential oil, g/g), and a temperature of 55 °C. Efficacy tests revealed that citronella oil biopesticide killed 77.85% of Spodoptera exigua pests on day 3, compared to 55.85% in the control group without biopesticide. This study demonstrates the potential of citronella oil biopesticide as an alternative to chemical pesticides. © 2025, Walailak University. All rights reserved.
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Semarang, 50229, Indonesia
