Herbal Effervescent Disinfectant Tablets as a Sustainable Chlorine Substitute in Healthcare Waste Management: A Case Study from Indonesia
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1
Department of Environmental Health, Bandung Health Polytechnic, North Cimahi, Indonesia, 40514
2
Center of Excellence, Bandung Health Polytechnic, Jalan Pajajaran 56, Bandung, Indonesia, 40171
3
Department of Pharmacy, Bandung Health Polytechnic, Jalan Prof Eyckman 24, Bandung, Indonesia 40161
4
Geography Department, Omdurman Islamic University, Omdurman City, Sudan
Corresponding author
Elanda Fikri
Department of Environmental Health, Bandung Health Polytechnic, North Cimahi, Indonesia, 40514
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ABSTRACT
Chlorine-based disinfectants are widely used in healthcare waste treatment but are increasingly restricted due to their toxic byproducts and environmental impact. This study aimed to develop and optimize herbal-based effervescent disinfectant tablets using Piper betle and Cymbopogon citratus extracts as a safer, eco-friendly alternative.
Effervescent tablets were formulated using sodium bicarbonate, citric and tartaric acids, PVP, and standardized ethanol extracts of P. betle and C. citratus. A Box-Behnken Design within Response Surface Methodology was applied to optimize three formulation variables (NaHCO₃), citric acid ratio, and PVP (against two critical response parameters): effervescence time and foam height. Physical and microbiological evaluations were performed, including disinfection efficacy against Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus stearothermophilus on contaminated medical plastic waste.
The optimized formulation demonstrated rapid effervescence (as low as 2.68 seconds) and effective foam generation (up to 0.5400 cm). NaHCO₃ was the most significant factor influencing both disintegration and foaming behavior, with PVP and citric acid contributing through non-linear and interaction effects. Granule evaluation confirmed good flowability and compressibility (Hausner ratio <1.25; Carr’s index <16%). The regression models showed excellent fit (R² = 0.9999 for effervescence time, 0.9857 for foam height). Antimicrobial tests showed significant bacterial reduction, supporting practical efficacy.
Herbal effervescent tablets formulated from P. betle and C. citratus offer a viable, low-toxicity alternative to chlorine-based disinfection for healthcare waste. This plant-based formulation aligns with WHO sustainability goals and represents a scalable innovation for improving infection control in resource-limited health systems.