DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v26i5.407

Keywords: Averrhoa bilimbi; oxalic acid; stain remover; sodium hypochlorite

Abstract

Commercial products like Clorox have been used widely to remove stains. However, concerns have arisen regarding their environmental impact and toxicity. Therefore, oxalic acid, a bleaching agent from Averrhoa bilimbi fruit and leaf extract was used as an alternative to remove stains. This study determined the concentration of oxalic acid in Averrhoa bilimbi fruits and leaves using HPLC-UV spectroscopy. This study also aimed to formulate A. bilimbi fruit and leaf extracts as bleaching stain removers. Additionally, the extracts’ effectiveness as stain removers was evaluated through a visibility test and compared to a commercialized stain remover. The concentrations of oxalic acid in fruit and leaf are 294.20±47.35 and 239.81±60.50 ppm, respectively. The results show that the preferred formulations are F3 (50% A. bilimbi fruit extract) and L3 (50% A. bilimbi leaf extract). Hence, a 50% solution of fruit or leaf extract can remove various types of stains, like pencil lead, tomato sauce, eye makeup, and tea, in 10 minutes. The pH test also shows that the pH of these formulations is lower than a commercialized stain remover at 10.90 for F3 and 10.91 for L3, while the pH for the commercialized stain remover is 11.86. Hence, it is proven that both fruit and leaf extracts of A. bilimbi can be used as an alternative stain remover.