Production of Bagasse Pulp Paper Coated with Kaffir Lime Essential Oil-Based to Reduce Fly Disturbance

This research aimed to produce paper from sugarcane bagasse pulp coated with kaffir lime essential oil at varying coating thickness and to evaluate its effectiveness in repelling houseflies. The paper was formed from sugarcane bagasse pulp with a basis weight of 50 grammage and coated with kafir lime essential oil at concentrations of 2.5, 5, and 7.5% w/w using bar coater applicator no 1, 3, and 6 respectively. The repellent performance was tested using the Excito-repellency (ER) test with steamed mackerel as the bait and fly behavior observed for 30 and 60 minutes. The results showed that the paper coated with kaffir lime essential oil effectively reduced fly activity particularly at the 7.5% w/w of concentration with bar coater applicator no 6 which provided protection for up to 60 minutes. Additionally, coating with the essential oil increased the surface smoothness of the paper with higher concentrations and wet film thickness resulting in smoother surfaces. Furthermore, the addition of 2 % ww starch by dry pulp weight enhanced both the smoothness and strength of the paper sheets. In conclusion, kaffir lime essential oil demonstrates strong potential as a natural coating agent for repelling flies and can be effectively applied to environmentally friendly food packaging materials.