International Journal of Innovative and Emerging Research in Engineering
Volume 2, Issue 2, 2015
Available online at www.ijiere.com
International Journal of Innovative and Emerging
Research in Engineering
e-ISSN: 2394 - 3343
p-ISSN: 2394 - 5494
Study of Flower Waste Composting to Generate
Organic Nutrients
Mitali Makhania1 a and Amita upadhyay2a
a
M.E Student, Environmental Engg., Sarvajanik College Of Engineering And Technology 1, Surat, Gujarat, India
Assistant Professor, Civil Engg., Sarvajanik College Of Engineering And Technology 2 , Surat, Gujarat, India
b
ABSTRACT:
Composting is the cheap and best method for disposal of organic Waste and Converts it in to valuable product.
Composting is an Effective “Zero Waste” method for treating organic waste, which follow nature’s way of
recycling .Flower Waste has high moisture content and easily degradable carbon content. A long duration
leachate and odor problem arises during composting.The study focused on changes in the physic-chemical
parameters during the composting .Maximum Temperature measured at the fourth day of heap
composting.flower waste was collected from various temple of surat city.50 kg of flower was collected for heap
composting.
Keywords: Composting, Flower Waste, physical chemical parameter,recycling,Temple waste
I. INTRODUCTION
In economically developing countries, constraints related to economics, technology and qualified personnel have narrowed
the choice of acceptable solid waste management, treatment, and disposal options. Viable option includes minimizations,
recycling, composting, incineration, and sanitary Land filling.[3] Composting is the option that, with few expectation, best
fits within limited sources available in development countries .A characteristic that renders composting especially suitable
is its adaptability to a broad range of situation, due in part of flexibility of its requirement. Flowers are generated in large
amount, which are mostly used in the temple to worship god or a for a decoration purpose.[8] These flowers then disposed
to the water bodies or dumped on the land to decay which causes server environmental problems such as water soil pollution
etc. near about 50-60 kg of flower waste is generated from each temples approximately which is very serious problem from
the view of environmental pollution. Some flower merchants in the flower markets also dumped flower wastes in the
street.[12] Thish might lead to outbreak of serve endemic diseases as the garbage attracts pests. During rainy season, the
condition becomes worse with mosquitoes and files breeding on the waste. Also there is a serious issue of the leachate
production from the flower waste, which ultimately if mixed with river water or well will cause health issue. So, to avoid
these it is necessary to disposed flower properly.[25]
II. MATERIAL
.The main material used in the study is flower wastes and cow dung as microbial inoculums and dry leaves as a bulking
material. Generally analytical and laboratory grade chemicals were used for analysis and experimental work respectively
Table 1: Some Typical Characteristic of Materials Used in Composting
Parameters
Flower Waste
Moisture Content %
Carbon Content %
Nitrogen Content %
Phosphorus Content%
Potassium%
60.8 ± 0
35 ± 3
2.4 ± 0.6
5.04 ± 0.3
3.56 ± 0.3
A. Flower Waste
In the present study the flower waste was collected from nearby temple Radhakrishna temple, Sai Temple, Siddhi
vinayak Temple, and flower waste of flower market . The quantity and composition of flower waste vary widely from
location to location. The type of flower is generally; Marry Gold , Rose, Jasmine . some typical characteristics of flower
waste were shown in Table 1
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Volume 2, Issue 2, 2015
III. METHODOLOGY
A. Collection and Processing of Composting Material
The flower waste was collected from temple and waste from flower market.in the only flower waste composting, the
segregation of material was done to remove the polythene, paper, and other unwanted material. The material was
thoroughly mixed before the analysis and feed to experiment.
B. Experimental Set Up
Composting experiments were carried out in TIFAC center of SCET College. Heap type composting method was
performed. The experiments were carried out at the room temperature. Experimental sample were collected from six
different locations. Temperature was measured from these six locations as described in Figure.
Figure 1: Experimental Set up
C. Monitoring Changes In The Physic- Chemical Parameters of Composting
In this, study was conducted to monitor changes in the physico-chemical parameter by preparing the three different
combinations of heap for three month. The initial moisture content of flower waste is recorded as 60.8 % respectively.
Electrical conductivity pH, and volatile solids also measured. The experiment was performed at room temperature in
uncontrolled condition. Temperature was monitored at six location in each heap during the experimental duration.
Initially 7 day composting heap was kept covered to enhance fungal growth and loss of heat. At the end of experiments
the changes in Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorous and potassium were also monitored.
IV. RESULT AND DISSCUSION
The physiochemical analyzed of Flower waste composting were done at TIFAC, SCET Environmental lab. Samples
were analyzed for 5 physiochemical parameter like Temperature, pH, Electrical Conductivity, Moisture Content, Volatile
Solids Sampling.
Temperature (ºC)
A. Analysis of Physiochemical Parameters
 Temperature:
The temperature variations of only flower waste shown in. The temperature was start rising after one day of heap
preparation. The maximum rise up was monitored first 4-5 days; and after that temperature starts decreasing. The
Temperature was varied from 45ºC- 50ºC . After 30-40 days room temperature is similar to room temperature. For proper
sanitization and effective composting, the presence of thermophilic and mesophilic, both stages are important. It was
observed that thermophilic range only first 15-17 days, otherwise most of the time heap temperature in mesophilic range.
Other studies have also indicate that maximum thermophilic composting activity occurs at temperature range of 50-60ºC
reported that that composting would be essentially take place within two temperature ranges known as mesophilic (2540ºC) and thermophilic (over 40ºC), although mesophilic temperature allow effective composting.[21]
60
50
T1
40
T2
30
T3
20
10
T4
0
T5
1
4
10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
T6
Duration (days)
Figure 2 : Temporal variation of Temperature in Only Flower Waste Composting
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International Journal of Innovative and Emerging Research in Engineering
Volume 2, Issue 2, 2015
pH
Initial pH of waste ranges from 4.5-6.5 and start dropping after one day and reaches less than 4.2 within 7-8 days and
then it start increasing and reaches up to nearer to 8 within 12 days. Reported that finished compost generally has a pH
between 6 and 8.if the pH drops below 6.0, the microorganisms begin to die of and the decomposition process slows. If the
pH reaches 9, nitrogen is converted to ammonia and becomes unavailable to organisms.[27]
10
8
pH
6
4
pH
2
0
1 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 50
Duration(days)
Figure 3 : Temporal variation of pH in Only Flower Waste Composting

Electric Conductivity
Conductivity(µs/cm)
The electrical conductivity (EC) was monitored at room and ambient condition. There is no specific pattern was observed
at the same time minor fluctuations was also observed. It is well known that an increasing in temperature leads to a decrease
in electric conductivity, as per expert suggestion. in Flower waste composting ,it generally ranges from 3(µs/cm)60000(µs/cm).[21]
10000
8000
6000
4000
E.C
2000
0
1 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 50
Duration(days)
Figure 4 : Temporal variation of E.C in Only Flower Waste Composting

Moisture content
Moisture content (%)
The initial Moisture content was recorded as 58.67%.After 7 days when the polythene cover has been removed the
moisture content raise up to 65.63%.Afterwards it was found the Moisture content was started decreasing.
70.00%
60.00%
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
Moisturecontent
1 7 14 21 28 35 42 49
Duration (Days)
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Volume 2, Issue 2, 2015
Figure 5: Temporal variation of Moisture content in Only Flower Waste Composting

Volatile Solids:
Volatile Solids
Significance Reduction in volatile solids is one of the indicators used for compost maturity. The reduction in volatile
solids is the indicator of loss of carbon content in the waste and rate of degradation was depends upon the characteristics
of organic constitute .the reduction in volatile solids was observed in flower waste Composting heap. The changes in the
volatile solids during the composting were shown in Figure. In the present study volatile solid reduction was ranges from
20 to 32% of the initial amount. The volatile solids reduction occurred during 4-6 week, when the higher temperature was
recorded.[27]
100
80
60
40
volatile solids
20
0
1
7 14 21 28 35 42 49
Duration(Days)
Figure 6: Temporal Variations in Volatile Solids
V. CONCLUSION
The present study focus on the degradation aspects of flower waste. The study was conducted up to 50 days of Flower
waste composting in the first study was to monitor changes in the physico-chemical parameters of flower waste by
monitoring the volatile matter, moisture, temperature, etc. Covering of heap with polythene sheet helps in fungal growth
and increasing the temperature and both is helping to break down the tough organic content of the waste.
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