UNAIR NEWS - The large amount of used cooking oil waste in Pranggang Village, Plosoklaten District, Kediri Regency, initiated KKN BBK 67 Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) students turn it into aromatherapy candles. The aromatherapy candles themselves can be helpful as relaxation when sleeping, calms the mind, and reduce stress. 

UNAIR students invited residents to make aromatherapy candles from household waste. It was held at Pranggang Village Hall on Tuesday (24/1/2023). Although the production was limited, the participants were the local health post cadres of Pranggang Village. 

Preventing Soil Pollution

The head of the BBK 67 UNAIR KKN group in Pranggang Village, Muhammad Ariiq Setiawan, stated that Pranggang Village has most home-based businesses that use cooking oil to process dishes. Until now, the community's behavior still tends to dispose of used cooking oil directly into the drainage.

"When it is discharged directly into the sink, into the ground, the environment will be polluted. Especially the water and soil around us," he said. 

Ariiq said that with the fluctuation in cooking oil prices, there needs to be an effort to utilize the waste. One of them is the innovation of using cooking oil in aromatherapy candles. 

"The utilization of used cooking oil waste into aromatherapy candles is one way to reduce or prevent environmental pollution," he said.

Economical Value and Business Idea

In addition, to reduce environmental pollution, the processing of aromatherapy candles can be a promising business idea for the Pranggang residents. This is because the capital exceeded is small but has a high selling price. So, it can be a business idea, especially for predominantly female villagers.

"Meanwhile, in terms of sales, aromatherapy candles on the market have a fairly high price. That is, ranging from 15-25 thousand rupiah per item. We hope that this aromatherapy candle product can be used as a business idea for Pranggang residents," she said.

Collecting Residents' Oil

Ariiq and his group first collected used cooking oil from the residents. Both from fried food-selling businesses and housewives. After the used cooking oil waste was collected, the group conducted experiments to get the proper composition ratio.

"We got pretty good results with a 1:1 ratio of used cooking oil and paraffin," he said. 

Aromatherapy Candle-Making Technique

In making aromatherapy candles, the team prepared tools and materials. The tools are a stove, pot, spoon, tea strainer, glass cup, wick thread, and stick. The materials used were cooking oil, paraffin, and perfume seeds. 

First, mix filtered cooking oil and paraffin in a pot to make it. The ratio of used cooking oil and paraffin is 1:1. Second, turn on the stove and put the pot containing used cooking oil and paraffin on the stove, then heat it until it melts and mixes evenly. 

Third, after melting the paraffin, mix the seed oil as much as 1 tablespoon according to desire. Fourth, prepare the wick thread tied on a stick and place it on the glass. Fifth. Put the heated liquid into the glass container. Seventh, let stand for about 6 hours to freeze the liquid, and aromatherapy candles can be used.

Writer: azhar burhanuddin

Editor: Feri Fenoria

Source: https://alumni.unair.ac.id/site/article/read/1963/mahasiswa-kkn-bbk-67-desa-pranggang-ajak-warg.html