The effect of adding citric acid on making antibacterial film-formed soap for hospital

Antibacterial soap is not only used to cleanse dirt, but also can kill bacteria. Maintaining personal hygiene such as using antibacterial soap is the best way to prevent bacterial infections such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) which has increased to 8% in Indonesia. Unfortunately, the use of triclosan and triclocarban as antibacterial agent has been banned by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017 yet still found in the market in Indonesia. Soap can be safely used if it meets the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) 3532:2016. Some of them are free alkali, free fatty acid, pH value and water content. Citric acid was used as additives which could control the quality of the soap. Spirulina platensis and virgin coconut oil (VCO) were used as source of fatty acids. VCO was also used as antibacterial agent in making film-formed soap. Film-formed is expected to lessen water waste. This soap is made by the hot process method at a temperature of 65°C and an addition of citric acid (2, 4, 6% w/w VCO). The examinations done were free alkali, free fatty acid, pH value, water content and antibacterial activity toward S. aureus. The result showed that all sample meet the SNI standard of hard soap. The optimum composition in soap making was found in the use of 1 g S. platensis and 6% of citric acid.