By Inorganic and Physical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran
Sumedang, Thursday, 18 July 2024
Contributes to the following SDGs:
#SDGs3 #SDG4 #SDGs7 #SDGs8 #SDGs9 #SDGs11
Objectives of the Community Service Activity
The objectives of this Community Service Activity (PKM) for students at Darul Hufadz Cipacing Islamic Senior High School (MA) in Jatinangor, Sumedang, entitled “Making Aromatic Candles from Used Cooking Oil” are:
- To implement one of the roles of higher education institutions as a source of knowledge and technology for the community through Community Service.
- To strengthen information about the existence of higher education institutions, specifically the Chemistry Department of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Padjadjaran University, to students at MA Plus Darul Hufadz Cipacing, Jatinangor District, Sumedang Regency, as a level of further education.
- To disseminate information about one of the roles of chemistry in everyday life related to the Making Aromatic Candles from Used Cooking Oil.
Community Service Activity Participants
This Community Service Activity (PKM) activity was attended by 10th-grade students from MA Plus Darul Hufadz Cipacing, Jatinangor District, Sumedang Regency, and the PKM Implementation Team from the Physical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Padjadjaran University. Forty-one students and three accompanying teachers participated in this PKM activity.
Community Service Implementation Method
PKM was implemented in the form of delivering information related to the PKM material, namely Making Aromatherapy Candles from Used Cooking Oil, followed by practical demonstrations. All PKM activities were conducted in the Physical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jatinangor, Sumedang.
Background to the Idea of Utilizing Used Cooking Oil
According to the Big Indonesian Dictionary, used cooking oil is leftover cooking oil or oil used for frying. Used cooking oil is oil left over from frying that has been used repeatedly. Repeated use of used cooking oil will affect the quality and nutritional value of fried foods and can impact health. Using used cooking oil can cause health problems, including damage to the small intestine, blood vessels, heart, and liver. Damage to several organs is caused by the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in used cooking oil, which form free radicals. Disposing of used cooking oil in the environment can cause environmental pollution if done continuously. Besides being carcinogenic, used cooking oil is also classified as B3 waste, which is hazardous if disposed of in the environment. Therefore, innovation is needed to utilize used cooking oil waste so that it is not disposed of and pollutes the environment and has benefits. Appearance of used cooking oil and environmental pollution caused by used cooking oil disposal
Disposing of used cooking oil waste in drains or the ground will contaminate water and soil. Environmental pollution caused by liquid waste dumped into rivers can be reduced through waste management efforts. Untreated used cooking oil waste will require difficult and costly environmental remediation. To address this problem, various efforts are being made to prevent waste from becoming an environmental problem. Reusing used cooking oil waste into useful materials will reduce the negative impacts of used cooking oil waste, for example, by making aromatherapy candles from used cooking oil. Utilizing used cooking oil waste as aromatherapy candles can help reduce environmental pollution caused by household waste.
Benefits of Aromatic Candles
Candles, as a basic product (before being modified with aromatherapy oils), are widely known to have various benefits, including: (a) as a source of light, (b) as a room decoration, and (c) as a medium for aromatherapy. Aromatherapy candles, on the other hand, are candles made by adding fragrances for various purposes.
Aromatherapy candles, in addition to their general benefits as candles, also offer several additional benefits, including:
- treating insomnia (difficulty sleeping),
- alleviating muscle tension and pain,
- reducing stress, and
- maintaining concentration.
Aromatherapy candles produce a therapeutic aroma when burned, providing a calming and relaxing effect. Furthermore, aromatherapy candles also have economic value, potentially developing them as an alternative source of additional income for the community. Using used cooking oil as a basic ingredient for making aromatherapy candles is a creative option that is relatively easy to do and requires simple tools and materials.
24/Kim/2025
