D-limonene from orange (Citrus Maxima) peel extraction as destructive agent of styrofoam waste

Abstract

Styrofoam is widely used for food packaging because it has good weight, stability, and stiffness but it cannot be decomposed naturally by microorganisms. D-Limonene, one of the monoterpene derivatives, is an environmentally friendly styrofoam solvent. This monoterpene is the main component of essential oil that can be extracted from orange peel. The aim of this study is to destruct styrofoam wastes (foods packaging, electronics packaging, foam boards and cup noodles) using d-limonene from orange (Citrus Maxima) peel extraction by water distillation process. The orange peel after size reduction is extracted by water distillation process at 94°C for 7 hours to produce essential oils. It was used to destruct styrofoam waste at the different volume ratio (1:0:0; 1:0:3; 1:1:2; 1:2:1) of the essential oil mixture (essential oil : ethanol: water). The result of this study shows that styrofoam wastes can be destructed using d-limonene from orange (Citrus Maxima) peel extraction. D-limonene of essential oil from orange (Citrus Maxima) peel can be used as destructive agent of styrofoam waste. The fastest destruction time of styrofoam waste occurs at electronic packaging with essential oil mixture by volume ratio of 1:1:2.