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Review Paper on Ecofriendly Temple Waste Management: an Integrated Process for Methane Biofuel and Organic Fertilizer Production at Sangli, Maharashtra

Sadavare Shreyas Vijaykumar
Environmental Science and Technology,
Department Of Technology, Shivaji University, Kolhapur

Abstract - Temple waste — predominantly composed of floral offerings such as marigold (Tagetes erecta), aster (Callistephus chinensis), and basil leaves (Ocimumsanctum) — constitutes a substantial but chronically under-managed organic resource at holy places across India. Conventional disposal through river immersion or open landfilling leads to greenhouse gas emissions, groundwater contamination, and aesthetic degradation of sacred sites. This review critically examines thescientific and techno-economic feasibility of an integrated valorisation pathway that transforms templewaste into two commercially valuable outputs: methanerich biogas and nutrient-dense organic fertilizer (digestate). Drawing upon experimental evidence from anaerobic digestion studies conducted at analogous sitesin Maharashtra, we evaluate the impact of alkaline chemical pretreatment (sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate), solar-assisted digester heating, and codigestion with canteen food waste on methane yields. Key findings indicate that Na2CO3 pretreatment improves biogas output by up to 106% and reduceschemical cost by 96% relative to NaOH; solar heating amplifies yield by a further 122%; and 30% food-waste co-digestion adds 32.6% incremental gain. The rawbiogas methane content reaches 57.52%, surpassing previous floral-waste studies. Downstream purificationof hydrogen sulfide using zero-valent iron (Fe0) andactivated carbon packed-bed adsorbers is reviewed, alongside CO2 removal technologies — water scrubbing, membrane separation, pressure-swing adsorption,chemical absorption, and emerging electrochemical separation — that upgrade the biomethane to near pipeline quality. The organic digestate is characterisedfor nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content, confirming suitability as a biofertilizer. Microbial fuel cell (MFC) as an alternative bioelectricity pathway is also assessed. Thisreview concludes that a decentralised, solar-integrated biogas plant co-located with temple premises in Sangli offers a socially acceptable, financially viable, and environmentally sound circular-economy solution for sacred-site waste management.
Key Words: Anaerobic digestion; Temple floral waste; Biogas; Alkaline pretreatment; Solar digester heating; Co-digestion; Hydrogen sulfide removal; Biogas upgrading; Organic fertilizer; Circular economy