PRODUCTION OF HAND SANITIZERS FROM CHEAP

LOCAL MATERIALS

1*
DAWODU OG JUWA OG 1

Department of Science Laboratory Technology Federal Polytechnic Ede, Osun State,

Nigeria.
*dawgrace@yahoo.com, 234-8037382417

ABSTRACT
Hand sanitizer is a supplement or alternative to hand washing with soap and water. The production of
hand sanitizers from locally grown medicinal plants namely; wild spinach, turmeric, garlic) and
camphor was achieved by obtaining the plants, grinding and performing ethanolic extraction for 72hrs
on them. This ethanolic extract in combination with glycerin and absolute ethanol were used for the
final preparation. Turmeric and garlic failed the hand sanitizer ‘s approval test based on their colour
and pungent smell, but wild spinach and camphor were found to be good candidates for hand sanitizers
production here in Nigeria and inclusion of such products here could increase hand hygiene
compliance levels.

Keywords: hand sanitizer, medicinal plants, hygiene, soap alternative.

INTRODUCTION

Hand sanitizers, otherwise known as hand antiseptics is an alternative to hand washing with soap

and water. It can be made in different form such as gel, foam and liquid solution (sprays). The base

of all hand sanitizers is alcohol. The alcohol used may be isopropyl alcohol (Isopropanol),

ethanol-propanol or povidone-iodine. Alcohol based hand sanitizer are more effective in killing

microorganisms. (Hand hygiene., 2006)

An alcohol is any organic compound in which the hydroxyl functional group (OH) is bound to a

saturated carbon atom. The primary alcohol usually forms the base of hand sanitizer which is

about 60%.

Hand sanitizers effectiveness starts with its formula. The base of all hand sanitizers is alcohol,

added to vitamin E, aloe vera (or another softening ingredient), and glycerine. The essential,

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and germ killing ingredient in hand sanitizers is the alcohol, and the minimum amount one needs

for a sanitizer is 60%.

The process of germ killing starts by removing the oil on the skin, the bacteria present in the

body from coming to the surface. Then the alcohol kills the bacterial once rubbed over the hands.

Hand sanitizers is clearly effective against gastrointestinal and, to a lesser extent, respiratory

infections. Alcohol rubs also helps, to kill many different kinds of bacteria and TB bacteria.

Medicinal plants are plants used in the management of many ailments and as such there

applications are numerous. Examples include turmeric which contains a main bioactive

compound curcumin, it has power anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong anti-oxidant.

(Bhowmik et al., 2009). The aim of this study is to produce hand sanitizers from locally grown

medicinal plants.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

MATERIALS

Beaker, Filter funnel, Filter paper, foil paper, paper tape, Packaging bottle, analytical weighing

balance, Lavender oil, glycerin, camphor, wild spinach, garlic, turmeric, Ethanol, distilled water

METHOD

Camphor, wild spinach, garlic and turmeric were grounded into powder form camphor and

wild spinach give dry fine particle; while garlic and turmeric was in moisten form.

50g of each medicinal plants (wild spinach garlic turmeric) and camphor was weighed using

analytical weighing balance and poured into four different beakers. 100ml of ethanol was

poured into each of the beakers and covered with foil paper seal with paper tape labelled and

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left for 24 hrs, 48 hrs and 72 hrs.

MEDICINAL EXTRACT

The content in the beakers was filtered into a new four different beakers by the use of filter paper

and filter funnel. 100ml of ethanol was then poured into these beakers and sealed with foil paper

and left for another 72hrs. This procedure was repeated twice and the filtrate was collected. 10ml

of each extract was measured into four different beakers that had been labeled. 90ml of ethanol

was measured and poured into each of the beakers. To each of the beakers, a drop of lavender oil

was added and 10ml of glycerine was measured and to it 90ml of ethanol was added and two drops

of lavender oil.

RESULTS &DISCUSSION

RESULTS

The pictures below give a representation of the hand sanitizers that were produced.

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Fig 1: hand sanitizers made from cheap and local materials namely; Glycerin, Garlic,

Camphor and Turmeric.

It was observed that garlic turns milky and gave a pungent small hence it can't be used to make a

hand sanitizer. Turmeric can't be used to make hand sanitizer because of it's colour i.e. it's colour

reaction gives a reddish yellow colour, hence it is not presentable as a good hand sanitizer.

Camphor, wild spinach and glycerine can be used to make hand sanitizer because it gives sweet

smell but bleaching agent must be added to the wild spinach solution to remove the colour of the

solution.

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PACKAGING

The packaging bottle were rinsed with water and then equilibrate i.e ethanol was used to rinsed

the bottles to let the water drop out. The camphor hand sanitizer, glycerin hand sanitizer and wild

spinach hand sanitizer were poured into the packaging bottles and ready for use.

DISCUSSION

Hand sanitizer can be produced by the medicinal plant, such as garlic, wild spinach and turmeric,

camphor, glycerin. Hand sanitizer produced from garlic and turmeric is not presentable because of it's

colour and the pungent small.

Wild spinach, camphor and glycerin can be used to produce hand sanitizer due to the colour and the

sweet smell which makes them presentable. On application to hand it works efficiently (it kills germ)

for the purpose it was produced. It is advantageous to use wild spinach because of its anti-ulcerative

and anti-cancerous benefits. www.healthbenefits/medicinalplants.org.

Tumeric hand sanitizers will be better than alcohol rob hand sanitizers because of its powerful anti-

inflammatory effects and its strong anti-oxidants potentials. www.nutritionalfacts.com.

Hand sanitizers made from camphor, would have the greatest advantage because it is readily absorbed

through the skin producing either a coolness or warmth sensation, or could act as a local anesthetic

and antimicrobial substance, and presently a lot of anti-itch gels and cooling gels use camphor as the

active ingredient. It could also act as a good product for babies. www.google.com/handsanitizers.

Hand sanitizers are generally known to kill germs, the active ingredient is ethanol which effectively

act against the germ and wipe them off making the hand free of microorganism. Lavender oil makes

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the hand sanitizer to have a pleasant smell or aroma while glycerine makes it to be turbid.

The hand sanitizer can be used to kill germs in place such as toilets, hospitals, home, industries,

offices, e.t.c.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, hand sanitizer was produced to solve the problems faced from the action of germs,

bacterial and viral infections. It can quickly reduce the number of microbes on hand. The use of

alcohol hand sanitizer enhance hand hygiene programs due to their ease and convenience of

using in conjunction with plain or antimicrobial soaps and water thereby increasing hand hygiene

compliance level.

RECOMMENDATION

The alcohol hand sanitizer should be used by health practitioners in washing hands during

routine patient-care activities on the general patient floor as well as to pre-op surgical preparation

and post-op hand washing in the hospital recovery room.

Hand sanitizer is recommended for cleaning hands before and after eating, when preparing food

or when hands are potentially contaminated with bodily fluids.

Also, it should be used by people in public toilets to prevent contact of diseases. It can also be

used in offices, industries and other public place.

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 6553(03)00041-5 .

www.healthbenefits/medicinalplants.org

www.nutritionalfacts.com

www.google.com/handsanitizes