Evaluation and conversion of temple waste flowers into incense sticks in Tumakuru district of Karnataka, india

Abstract

In any waste management process, the 3 R’s, i.e., Recycling, Reuse and Recover play a very important role. The present work focuses on collection, handling, and usage of waste flowers. A large volume of flower waste generated daily at Tumakuru is improperly disposed of in open places or in dust bins and finally reaches landfill along with the other municipal solid wastes. As a part of India’s Swachh Bharat programme, this paper gives an idea of reducing the flower waste quantity and converting them into incense sticks. The various types of flowers were analysed and compared based on the results obtained from physicochemical properties. SEM and EDS were used to determine the surface morphology and chemical compositions of crushed flowers, respectively. From the SEM study, it can be seen that filament type, cave type and stripelike textures were observed on the surfaces of crushed flowers, and the EDS analysis has shown that the rose flower powder has a rich amount of carbon (66.98 %) and yellow chrysanthemum flower contains less carbon (37.68 %) compared to other crushed flowers. Also, this paper demonstrates the practical aspects in making incense sticks from flower waste. It was suggested that dumping process must be managed with flexibility, following strict implementation of the applicable legislation, and awareness programs are needed to collect and reuse flower waste from different sources.

Bioactive Compounds from Organic Waste

“…Acacia dealbata flowers were employed for their antibrowning, anti-lipogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties, and for their cytotoxicity on colon carcinoma HCT-116 and lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells [136]. The alternatives for the management of flower residues include obtaining syrup [37], incense [137], and rose (Rosa indica) water generation [138], among others (Table 2). Total polyphenols in peel: 3.51-5.17 mg GAE g −1 (FW) Total phenol content in seed: 4.44 mg GAE g −1 (FW) Condensed tannins in peel: 14.7 mg CE g −1 (FW) and seeds: 15.…”

The Impact of Fine Particulate Matters (PM10, PM2.5) from Incense Smokes on the Various Organ Systems: A Review of an Invisible Killer

“…[ 17,18 ] Incense sticks and incense are generally used to purify the environment with fragrances on various occasions like marriages, rituals, funerals, ghost festivals, and other religious activities, especially in Southeast Asian countries. [ 19–21 ] The smoke released from incense and incense sticks burning may alleviate an allergic response in some people, via inhalation of micron and submicron particles that cause pulmonary disorders via aggravated oxidative stress. [ 9,22,23 ]…”