LEMON GRASS (Cymbopogon Citratus) AS AN ALTERNATIVE MOSQUITO

REPELLANT CANDLE

A Research Paper

Presented to the

Faculty of the Junior Highschool Department

ACADEMIA DE SAN AGUSTIN CALBAYOG – INC.

Calbayog City

In Partial Fullfillment for the Course

Requirement in Research

Researcher:

Margarette Vienne S. Camilon

May 11 2022
 INTRODUCTION

Nowadays, a lot of people are getting bitten by mosquitoes (Culicidae) and

having the virus called Dengue (Dengue Virus). Dengue Virus is where a mosquito bites

a human and spread it to another. Dengue Virus can cause severe disease like high

fever and flu.

We can make Repellant Candles out of Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus) but

since citronella is hard to find we can make Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon Ciratus) as an

alternative. Citronella and Lemon Grass are two different plants but they are closely

related because it has the same benefits. Lemongrass is well-known for its mosquito-

repelling properties. According to research made in 2011, the powerful smell of

lemongrass oil eliminated or thoroughly repelled around 95 percent of mosquitos from a

particular range of species.

Lemon Grass repel mosquitoes because it contains Citronella oil. The oil in the

Lemon Grass is used as traditional medicine. Essential oil is present in the leaves of the

lemon grass which you can extract by the method of hydrodistillation. The oil of lemon

grass has a lot of benefits that’s why it can also cure stomachache, pain, vomiting,

cough, common cold, fever and more. The essential oil from the lemongrass can repel

bugs because of its rich in acids that has a distinct smell.

Lemongrass is well-known for its mosquito-repelling properties. According to a

research made in 2011, the powerful smell of lemongrass oil eliminated or thoroughly

repelled around 95 percent of mosquitos from a particular range of species.

 This paper sets out to address of what do lemongrass contains and why do

citronella and lemongrass have the same benefits and minerals. We used lemon grass

as an alternative because citronella needs to be direct from the sunlight and sensitive to

the cold. Having this experiment may help us and others to prevent having illness

bought by mosquitos.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the Lemongrass as an

alternative mosquito repellant candle.

Specifically, it aims to answer the following questions.

1. What is the effective percentage composition of the ingredients?

2. What is the product social acceptance in terms of the following:

2.1 scent and, and

2.2 appearance?

3. What is the extent of the effectiveness of the product?

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is significant to the various sectors that followed:

USER: If the candle is used by the user, it helps mosquitos avoid the user, the

candle mostly repels mosquitos.

 ENVIRONMENT: It is safe to use for the environment and it can possibly lessen

the dengue virus cases.

METHODOLOGY

This part explains the required materials and equipment, as well as the procedures.

A. Materials and Equipment

Materials

 Lemongrass

 Oil

 Container

 Chopped candle wax

 Candle wick

Equipment

 Stove

 Pan

 Pot

 Strainer
 Stick

B. Methods

This study utilized a controlled experimental design.

Prepare all materials

First, Wash the
and equipments so Next, fry the
Lemongrass, and
that we won't cause lemongrass in oil
chop it into small
any problems over low heat.
pieces.
afterwards.

If the lemongrass
When the wax has
Put the chopped has already been
melted, transfer it to
wax in the pot and fried, drain the oil
a separate container
melt it over through into a separate
and add the
low heat. container using the
lemongrass oil to it.
small strainer.

Then, dip the candle Lastly, let the melted

wick in the melted Then, pour the wax with the
hot candle and melted wax into the lemongrass oil set
secure it with a glass container. aside to cool and
stick. form in shape.
 PRESENTATION OF DATA

Table 1. Composition of Experimental and Control Groups

Experimental Group Control Group

Material (in mL) Lemongrass Extract Candle Wax

Lemongrass Extract 1 (LE1) 25 75

Lemongrass Extract 2 (LE2) 50 50

Lemongrass Extract 3 (LE3) 75 25

Table 1 shows the production of three setups containing different measurements

of materials in grams to determine the effective percentage of the product. The

researcher tries three set-ups to test the effectiveness composition of the materials. In

the first set-up is composed of 25% lemongrass extract and 75% candle wax. The

second set-up has 50% lemongrass extract and 50% candle wax. The third set-up has

75% lemongrass extract and 25% candle wax. The researcher uses the trial-and-error

approach to determine what percentage of each component is effective to use.

Table 2. Product Social Acceptance in terms of Scent and Appearance.

Table 2 shows the social acceptance in terms of scent in different setups.

Set-ups Scent Appearance Remarks

1 Had slightly strong Yellowish White Since the

smell of lemongrass. lemongrass extract
is so low, its
effectiveness is
small.

2 It smelled like wax and Same Effective, however

lemongrass, although appearance as the smell could be
the lemongrass was Set-up 1. stronger.
more dominant.

3 It had a stronger Same Because of the

lemongrass scent than appearance as strong lemongrass
the wax. Set-up 1 and 2. scent, it's really
effective.

According to the research, the appearance and scent were the most important factors in

getting people to accept the product and determining whether it was still excellent or

not.
 CONCLUSION

Therefore, when the three candles begin to cool, the third candle with the most

lemongrass extract cools first, followed by the two candles with more wax than extract.

The candle turned out well in terms of appearance, but when it cools, the wax settles

and forms a bumpy surface. However, the majority of the candle scents were effective. I

tested each for 30 minutes and found that the third one was the most effective; you can

really smell the lemongrass extract and repelled more mosquitoes. You can't smell the

lemongrass extract from far away, but you can smell it when you go close to the candle.
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