The potential of celery <i>(Apium graveolens</i> L.) essential oil as a dissolving agent of styrofoam waste

Abstract Limonene which has been proven to be an environmentally friendly styrofoam solvent compound, in addition to being found in citrus essential oil, also becomes the main compound in the essential oil of celery plants, around 53-77%. However, no research has been conducted on its potential as a dissolving agent of styrofoam. This research aims to determine the concentration of limonene in the essential oil obtained from the extraction of celery leave blades, petioles, and roots, as well as the potential of celery plants as a solvent of styrofoam, and the dissolve of styrofoam in terms of time and area styrofoam. The research stages include sample preparation, extraction of celery leave blades, petioles, and roots using steam distillation methods, and the application of celery essential oil as a styrofoam solvent. GC-MS analysis was conducted to determine the level of limonene contained in celery essential oil. The obtained data will then be analyzed using standard deviation test. The results of the research show that the highest yield of essential oil was obtained from the extraction of celery leaves, amounting to 10.45%, while from the extraction of celery petioles and roots, there were only a small amount of 0.083%, so it could not be continued to the further tests, including GC-MS analysis and treatment applications. The concentration of limonene contained in celery leave blades essential oil are 22.19%, and it is most effective in decomposing styrofoam boards, with an average dissolve area of 3.67 cm 2 /minute. Celery leave blades essential oil are very potential as an environmentally friendly styrofoam solvent.