Optimization of a Green Detergent (PepClean) Formulated from Pepper Washing Effluent and Lime Leaf Extract (Citrus aurantifolia) for Sustainable Textile Sanitation
Abstract
The downstream processing of pepper agricultural products generates massive organic wastewater, posing severe eutrophication risks. However, this agricultural effluent is fundamentally rich in piperine, a potent bioactive alkaloid. Applying a sustainable circular economy framework, this study investigates the revalorization of pepper wastewater combined with triterpenoid saponins from lime leaves (Citrus aurantifolia) to synthesize an eco-friendly liquid textile detergent. A Completely Randomized Design structured the methodology across three formulations: 100 ml lime extract (P1), 100 ml pepper wastewater (P2), and a 1:1 synergistic binary mixture (P3). Physicochemical quality was evaluated against the SNI 4075-1:2017 standard. Statistical analyses via One-Way ANOVA and Tukey HSD testing conclusively demonstrated the superior functional profile of P3. The optimized combination exhibited a stoichiometric pH equilibrium of 7.74, a micellar foam displacement of 20 millimeters, and stability with zero physical sedimentation over a 28-day observation. Detergency efficacy confirmed maximal detergency power, recording an absorbance of 0.075. Furthermore, antimicrobial testing revealed profound in-vitro antibacterial efficacy, yielding a 13.83 mm inhibition zone against Escherichia coli. The data support a mechanistic synergism where saponins destabilize bacterial membranes, facilitating piperine penetration. Consequently, this optimized botanical formulation emerges as a highly viable, biodegradable alternative to synthetic commercial petrochemical surfactants.
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