PENGARUH VARIASI KONSENTRASI ASAM STEARAT & TRIETANOLAMIN SEBAGAI EMULGATOR TERHADAP MUTU FISIK & STABILITAS LOTION MINYAK ATSIRI SEREH WANGI (Cymbopogon nardus L.)

Nyamuk sebagai vektor penyakit memerlukan langkah pencegahan, salah satunya melalui lotion anti-nyamuk berbahan alami. Minyak atsiri sereh wangi (Cymbopogon nardus L.) yang kaya senyawa sitronellal, geraniol, dan sitronellol efektif sebagai penolak nyamuk, tetapi sifatnya yang mudah menguap memerlukan formulasi berbasis lotion untuk meningkatkan stabilitas. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memformulasikan lotion sereh wangi dengan variasi konsentrasi asam stearat dan trietanolamin (TEA) sebagai emulgator untuk mengoptimalkan mutu fisik dan stabilitas. Penelitian ini menggunakan 3 formula lotion dengan minyak atsiri sereh wangi berkonsentrasi 10% dan variasi asam stearat sebesar 3%, 4%, dan 5% dan TEA 3%, 2%, 1%. Mutu fisik lotion diuji melalui berbagai parameter, yaitu: organoleptis, homogenitas, tipe lotion, pH, viskositas, daya lekat, daya sebar, serta stabilitas. Data hasil pengujian dianalisis secara statistik dengan metode one way ANOVA. Apabila terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan, maka dilanjutkan dengan uji Tukey. Selanjutnya, uji stabilitas dianalisis menggunakan paired t-test. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan variasi emulgator asam stearat dan TEA berpengaruh terhadap mutu fisik lotion minyak atsiri sereh wangi yang meliputi organoleptis, homogenitas, tipe lotion, pH, viskositas, daya lekat, daya sebar, serta stabilitas. Dari hasil data uji mutu fisik lotion menunjukkan seluruh formula memenuhi standar lotion yang baik namun tidak stabil pada uji stabilitas. Mosquitoes, as disease vectors, required preventive measures, one of which was the use of natural-based mosquito repellent lotion. Citronella essential oil (Cymbopogon nardus L.), rich in citronellal, geraniol, and citronellol compounds, was effective as a mosquito repellent. However, its volatile nature required a lotion-based formulation to enhance stability. This study aimed to formulate a citronella lotion with varying concentrations of stearic acid & triethanolamine as an emulsifier to optimize physical quality and stability This study used three lotion formulations containing 10% citronella essential oil, with variations in stearic acid concentrations of 3%, 4%, and 5%, and TEA concentrations of 3%, 2%, and 1%. The physical quality of the lotions was tested through various parameters, including organoleptic properties, homogeneity, lotion type, pH, viscosity, adhesiveness, spreadability, and stability. The test data were statistically analyzed using the one-way ANOVA method. If significant differences were found, the analysis was continued with a Tukey test. Furthermore, stability testing was analyzed using a paired t-test. The results of the study showed that variations in the emulsifiers stearic acid and TEA affected the physical quality of the citronella essential oil lotion, including organoleptic properties, homogeneity, lotion type, pH, viscosity, adhesiveness, spreadability, and stability. The physical quality test data indicated that all formulations met the standards of a good lotion however, they were not stable in the stability test.