Easily preserved natural environment-friendly Buddhist incense and preparation method thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of environment-friendly Buddhist incense manufacturing, in particular to natural environment-friendly Buddhist incense easy to store and a preparation method thereof. The preparation method of the natural environment-friendly Buddhist incense comprises the following steps: stirring and mixing Buddhist incense powder and deionized water to prepare incense mud, standing and aging, extruding and forming, forming an incense blank, shaping and drying to obtain a dried incense blank, coating a layer of damp-proof complexing agent on the surface of the dried incense blank, and drying to obtain the Buddhist incense. The Buddhist incense powder is prepared from the following raw materials: a natural plant main spice, a natural adhesive and a fracture-resistant composite filler, and the fracture-resistant composite filler is beneficial to effectively improving the fracture-resistant strength of the Buddhist incense and reducing the fracture risk of the Buddhist incense; the preparation raw materials of the moisture-proof complexing agent comprise wax liquid and a composite filler, the coating of the moisture-proof complexing agent can play moisture-proof and antibacterial roles on the Buddhist incense, and meanwhile, the air permeability of the Buddhist incense is ensured, so that sufficient oxygen is supplied when the Buddhist incense is burnt, and the problem that the Buddhist incense is not fully burnt or extinguished due to complete sealing is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of environmentally friendly incense making technology, and more specifically, to an easy-to-preserve natural and environmentally friendly incense and its preparation method. Background Technology

[0002] Incense is a type of incense used in religious ceremonies, prayers, and other activities. It is also a traditional item used to purify the air and create an atmosphere. It is made from natural fragrances such as sandalwood, agarwood, and cloves. When burned, it produces less smoke and has a fresh and natural aroma, making it more environmentally friendly and human-friendly.

[0003] Incense sticks, a common form of Buddhist incense, are straight-shaped sticks of incense. They are mainly categorized into single-ingredient incense made from a single ingredient and blended incense made from a mixture of several ingredients. During normal storage, incense sticks are relatively brittle, and improper transportation or storage can easily cause them to crack or break, resulting in direct loss. Furthermore, since incense sticks are primarily composed of natural fragrances, binders, and other plant-based raw materials, these materials typically have a high plant fiber content and a certain degree of hydrophilicity, easily absorbing moisture from the air. Moisture-soaked incense sticks are prone to cracking and falling off, affecting their burning efficiency. In addition, the plant-based raw materials in incense sticks contain trace amounts of nutrients, making them susceptible to mold growth on the surface. Moldy incense not only affects its appearance but also produces unpleasant odors and harmful substances when burned.

[0004] Currently, common technologies for moisture-proofing incense include wax coating, resin coating, and silicone impregnation. While wax coating can provide hydrophobic and moisture-proof protection, wax, as a hydrophobic organic coating material, is brittle and prone to cracking. During storage, transportation, or changes in temperature and humidity, the wax film may develop micro-cracks or peel off due to poor adhesion to the incense. These defects become rapid channels for moisture intrusion, reducing the overall moisture-proof effect. Furthermore, wax itself lacks a porous structure. When coated on the surface of the incense, the wax film easily blocks the original micropores, hindering oxygen diffusion within the incense and reducing its permeability. Oxygen is a key reactant in the combustion of incense; reduced permeability leads to insufficient oxygen supply, causing the combustion zone to shift from diffusion combustion to oxygen-deficient combustion, which can result in a slower burning rate or even extinguishing the incense. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the present invention provides an easy-to-preserve natural and environmentally friendly incense and its preparation method.

[0006] A natural and environmentally friendly incense that is easy to preserve is prepared by the following steps: mixing incense powder with deionized water to make incense paste, allowing it to stand and age, extruding it into shape to form an incense blank, shaping and drying it to obtain the dried incense blank, coating the surface of the dried incense blank with a moisture-proof composite agent, drying it to obtain the incense. The raw materials for preparing incense powder include: 64-80 parts by weight of natural plant main fragrance, 24-32 parts by weight of natural binder and 4-9 parts by weight of flexural strength composite filler; The raw materials for preparing the chitosan-sinapic acid complex include: 5-15 parts by weight of chitosan, 100-200 parts by weight of acetic acid solution with a volume concentration of 3%, 0.4-1 parts by weight of ascorbic acid powder, 10-20 parts by weight of hydrogen peroxide solution with a concentration of 3 mol / L, 2.5-6 parts by weight of sinapic acid, and 200-360 parts by weight of ethanol solution with a volume concentration of 70%. The raw materials for preparing the moisture-proof composite agent include: 40-56 parts by weight of wax liquid and 3-6 parts by weight of composite filler. The wax liquid is obtained by mixing and melting beeswax and rice bran wax at a mass ratio of (1-2):1. The composite filler is a chitosan-sinapic acid complex with a surfactant coated on the surface. The flexural strength composite filler is bagasse fiber with calcium carbonate deposited on its surface.

[0007] Furthermore, the main natural plant fragrances include at least one of sandalwood, agarwood, cypress, camphor, clove, and cinnamon.

[0008] Furthermore, the natural adhesive includes at least one of nanmu powder and elm bark powder.

[0009] Furthermore, the mixing mass ratio of incense powder to deionized water is 1:(0.4-0.6).

[0010] A method for preparing an easy-to-preserve, natural, and environmentally friendly incense includes the following steps: S1: Preparation of flexural composite filler: Sugarcane bagasse is crushed and sieved to obtain bagasse fiber. The bagasse fiber is pretreated with sodium hydroxide solution to obtain pretreated bagasse fiber. The pretreated bagasse fiber is added to calcium chloride solution and ultrasonically dispersed. Sodium carbonate solution is added dropwise while stirring. After the addition is completed, stirring is continued for a period of time. After standing, filtration and drying, flexural composite filler is obtained. S2: Preparation of chitosan-sinapic acid complex: Chitosan was dissolved in acetic acid solution to obtain chitosan solution. The pH of the chitosan solution was adjusted to acidic with hydrochloric acid solution. Ascorbic acid powder was dissolved in hydrogen peroxide solution to obtain mixed solution. Under nitrogen protection, the mixed solution and sinapic acid were added to the chitosan solution and stirred in the dark. After the reaction was completed, the pH of the solution was adjusted to neutral with sodium hydroxide solution. Ethanol solution was added to precipitate the reacted chitosan. After rinsing, filtration and drying, chitosan-sinapic acid complex was obtained. S3: Preparation of moisture-proof composite agent: After beeswax and rice bran wax are mixed evenly and heated to melt, a wax liquid is obtained. The chitosan-sinapic acid complex is coated with a surfactant, Tween-80, to obtain a composite filler. Under continuous heating, the composite filler is added to the wax liquid and stirred evenly to obtain a moisture-proof composite agent. S4: Preparation of incense: Natural plant main fragrance is crushed and sieved, then added to a mixer. While stirring, natural binder and anti-bending composite filler are added to the mixer and stirred evenly to obtain incense powder. Then, deionized water is added to the incense powder, stirred and mixed, and allowed to stand for aging to obtain incense paste. The incense paste is extruded and shaped into incense blanks. After shaping and drying, a layer of moisture-proof composite agent is evenly coated on the surface of the dried incense blanks and dried to obtain incense.

[0011] Furthermore, the preparation of the flexural composite filler in step S1 specifically includes the following steps: S1.1: Crush sugarcane bagasse and pass it through a 100-120 mesh sieve to obtain bagasse fiber. Immerse the bagasse fiber in a 3% sodium hydroxide solution at a solid-liquid ratio of 1:(14-20) g / mL, heat to 50-60℃, stir for 1-2 hours, filter and collect the filter residue. Wash the filter residue repeatedly with deionized water until it is neutral. Place the washed filter residue in an oven at 100-110℃ and dry it until the moisture content is ≤5% to obtain pretreated bagasse fiber for later use. S1.2: Take 10-20 parts by weight of pretreated bagasse fiber and add it to 250-400 parts by weight of calcium chloride solution with a concentration of 0.1-0.4 mol / L. After ultrasonic dispersion for 3-5 min, slowly add 100-200 parts by weight of sodium carbonate solution with a concentration of 0.1-0.3 mol / L while stirring. The stirring speed is 200-400 rpm and the adding speed is 1-2 mL / min. After the adding is completed, continue stirring for 30-60 min. Then, let it stand for 1-3 h, filter and dry to obtain flexurally resistant composite filler.

[0012] Furthermore, the preparation of the chitosan-sinapic acid complex in step S2 specifically includes the following steps: S2.1: Dissolve 5-15 parts by weight of chitosan in 100-200 parts by weight of acetic acid solution with a volume concentration of 3%, stir until clear and transparent to obtain chitosan solution, adjust the pH of chitosan solution to 3.8-4.6 with hydrochloric acid solution, and set aside. Dissolve 0.4-1 parts by weight of ascorbic acid powder in 10-20 parts by weight of hydrogen peroxide solution with a concentration of 3 mol / L to obtain mixed solution. S2.2: Under nitrogen protection, the mixed solution from step S2.1 is added to the chitosan solution from step S2.1, and stirred in the dark at 22-26°C for 20-40 min. Then, 2.5-6 parts by weight of sinapic acid are added, and the reaction is continued in the dark for 18-24 h. After the reaction is completed, the pH of the reaction solution is adjusted to neutral with sodium hydroxide solution, and 200-360 parts by weight of 70% ethanol solution is added to precipitate the chitosan. Then, after rinsing, filtration and drying, the chitosan-sinapic acid complex is obtained.

[0013] Furthermore, the preparation of the moisture-proof composite agent in step S3 specifically includes the following steps: S3.1: Mix beeswax and rice bran wax evenly at a mass ratio of (1-2):1, place them in a water bath, and heat at 82-90℃ until completely melted to obtain wax liquid; S3.2: Add 4-8 parts by weight of chitosan-sinapic acid complex to 100-200 parts by weight of anhydrous ethanol and ultrasonically disperse for 10-20 min to obtain a suspension. Dissolve 0.6-1.4 parts by weight of Tween-80 in 10-20 parts by weight of anhydrous ethanol to obtain a dropwise solution. Slowly add the dropwise solution to the obtained suspension while stirring at a stirring speed of 300-600 rpm and a dropping rate of 0.5-1 mL / min. After the dropwise addition is completed, continue stirring for 1-2 h. Then, filter, dry and sieve to obtain the composite filler. S3.3: Under continuous heating at 82-90℃, add 3-6 parts by weight of composite filler to 40-56 parts by weight of wax liquid, stir at high speed for 20-40 minutes at a stirring speed of 1000-1400 rpm until uniform, and obtain a moisture-proof composite agent that can be directly coated.

[0014] Furthermore, step S4: Incense processing and preparation specifically includes the following steps: S4.1: Crush the main natural plant fragrance and pass it through an 80-120 mesh sieve. Take 64-80 parts by weight of the sieved main natural plant fragrance and add it to a mixer. While stirring, add 24-32 parts by weight of natural binder and stir for 10-30 minutes. Then, while continuing to stir, add 4-9 parts by weight of anti-bending composite filler and stir for 10-20 minutes to obtain incense powder. Subsequently, add deionized water to the incense powder. The mixing mass ratio of incense powder to deionized water is 1:(0.4-0.6). Stir for 20-30 minutes. Take out the mixed material and let it stand for aging for 1-3 hours to obtain incense mud. S4.2: The incense paste is added into the incense extruder and extruded to form an incense blank; S4.3: Lay the incense blank flat and let it stand for 12-24 hours. After shaping, dry it at 38-42℃ for 24-36 hours. Then, evenly coat the surface of the dried incense blank with a moisture-proof composite agent and dry it at 25-30℃ for 18-24 hours to obtain incense.

[0015] Furthermore, the coating thickness of the moisture-proof composite agent is 0.1–0.3 mm.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following advantages: 1. In this invention, the main components of the incense are natural plant raw materials such as sandalwood, agarwood, and cinnamon, natural plant binder, anti-folding composite filler, and moisture-proof composite agent. Since it does not contain synthetic fragrances, chemical adhesives, paraffin, or other chemical components, the incense mainly releases plant volatiles and carbon dioxide when burned, and does not produce dioxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or pungent black smoke. This greatly reduces the generation of toxic and harmful chemicals such as benzene compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and aldehydes, improves indoor air quality, protects the respiratory health of users, and has the characteristics of being natural and environmentally friendly.

[0017] 2. In this invention, calcium carbonate crystals are uniformly coated on the surface of bagasse fibers using a chemical deposition method. The hydroxyl groups on the bagasse fiber surface serve as nucleation sites. By controlling the reaction conditions, calcium carbonate particles adhere to the bagasse fiber surface, forming a flexurally resistant composite filler. In this filler, the bagasse fiber acts as a flexible support skeleton to bear tensile force, effectively dispersing the bending stress and impact load on the incense, preventing brittle fracture caused by localized stress concentration. The calcium carbonate particles, as a rigid reinforcing phase, fill the gaps between the bagasse fibers, acting as a pinning agent. This limits excessive deformation of the bagasse fiber and fills the pores in the incense powder system, making the incense structure denser. Thus, through the synergistic reinforcement network formed by the bagasse fiber and calcium carbonate particles in the flexurally resistant composite filler, when the incense is subjected to external bending force, the stress can be borne by the bagasse fiber network skeleton, while the calcium carbonate particles prevent slippage and separation between the bagasse fibers, dispersing the stress over a wider area. This effectively improves the flexural strength of the incense, reduces brittle fracture, lowers the risk of breakage, and enhances the incense's preservation properties.

[0018] 3. In this invention, ascorbic acid and hydrogen peroxide are used as initiators to generate highly active hydroxyl radicals in situ under light-protected conditions. This activates the chitosan backbone and sinapic acid molecules, driving a free radical coupling reaction between chitosan and sinapic acid. Sinapic acid is then covalently grafted onto the chitosan molecules, resulting in a chemically stable chitosan-sinapic acid complex with stable antibacterial properties. Compared to the simple mixing of chitosan and sinapic acid, the chitosan-sinapic acid complex, through chemical bonding to form a homogeneous system, exhibits stronger antibacterial stability and more lasting inhibition of mold growth and reproduction, thus achieving long-lasting antibacterial protection for incense.

[0019] 4. In this invention, a moisture-proof composite agent is prepared and coated onto the surface of incense. The plant wax component in the moisture-proof composite agent is composed of beeswax and rice bran wax. During the melting, cooling, and crystallization process, the microcrystals of rice bran wax can serve as nucleation sites for beeswax crystallization, allowing the beeswax microcrystals to adhere to the surface of the rice bran wax and grow, forming a fine, interwoven microcrystalline network structure. This facilitates the formation of a hydrophobic wax film on the surface of the incense, preventing moisture from seeping and penetrating the surface. The composite filler in the moisture-proof composite agent is a chitosan-sinapic acid complex coated with a surfactant. The addition of the composite filler makes the chitosan... The uniform embedding of the sinapic acid complex within the microcrystalline network structure endows the hydrophobic wax film with antibacterial properties, leveraging the antibacterial effect of the chitosan-sinapic acid complex. Furthermore, the filling of the chitosan-sinapic acid complex reduces the risk of wax film cracking or localized peeling caused by the brittle texture of the wax coating, ensuring overall moisture resistance. Simultaneously, the dispersed embedding of the chitosan-sinapic acid complex, together with the microcrystalline network structure, constructs gas diffusion channels. While effectively blocking the intrusion of external moisture, it ensures the permeability of the incense, allowing for sufficient oxygen supply during combustion and preventing incomplete combustion or extinguishing of the incense due to complete sealing. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0021] Example 1 A method for preparing an easily preserved, natural, and environmentally friendly incense, specifically including the following steps: S1: Preparation of flexural strength composite filler S1.1: Crushed bagasse and passed through a 110-mesh sieve to obtain bagasse fiber. The bagasse fiber was immersed in a 3% sodium hydroxide solution at a solid-liquid ratio of 1:17 g / mL, heated to 55℃, and stirred for 1.5 h. The filter residue was collected and repeatedly washed with deionized water until it was neutral. The washed filter residue was placed in an oven at 105℃ and dried until the moisture content was ≤5% to obtain pretreated bagasse fiber for later use. S1.2: Take 15 parts by weight of pretreated bagasse fiber and add it to 325 parts by weight of calcium chloride solution with a concentration of 0.25 mol / L. After ultrasonic dispersion for 4 min, slowly add 150 parts by weight of sodium carbonate solution with a concentration of 0.2 mol / L while stirring. The stirring speed is 300 rpm and the adding speed is 1.5 mL / min. After the adding is completed, continue stirring for 45 min. Then, let it stand for 2 h, filter and dry to obtain flexurally resistant composite filler. S2: Preparation of chitosan-sinapic acid complex, S2.1: Dissolve 10 parts by weight of chitosan in 150 parts by weight of acetic acid solution with a volume concentration of 3%, stir until clear and transparent to obtain chitosan solution, adjust the pH of chitosan solution to 4.2 with hydrochloric acid solution, and set aside. Dissolve 0.7 parts by weight of ascorbic acid powder in 15 parts by weight of hydrogen peroxide solution with a concentration of 3 mol / L to obtain mixed solution. S2.2: Under nitrogen protection, the mixed solution from step S2.1 was added to the chitosan solution from step S2.1, and stirred in the dark at 24°C for 30 min. Then, 4.25 parts by weight of sinapic acid were added, and the reaction was continued in the dark for 21 h. After the reaction was completed, the pH of the reaction solution was adjusted to neutral with sodium hydroxide solution, and 280 parts by weight of 70% ethanol solution was added to precipitate the chitosan. Then, after rinsing, filtration and drying, the chitosan-sinapic acid complex was obtained. S3: Preparation of moisture-proof composite agent S3.1: Mix beeswax and rice bran wax evenly at a mass ratio of 1.5:1, place them in a water bath, and heat at 86°C until completely melted to obtain a wax liquid; S3.2: Add 6 parts by weight of chitosan-sinapic acid complex to 150 parts by weight of anhydrous ethanol and sonicate for 15 min to obtain a suspension. Dissolve 1 part by weight of Tween-80 in 15 parts by weight of anhydrous ethanol to obtain a dropwise solution. Slowly add the dropwise solution to the suspension while stirring at a stirring speed of 450 rpm and a dropping rate of 0.75 mL / min. After the dropwise addition is complete, continue stirring for 1.5 h. Then, filter, dry and sieve to obtain the composite filler. S3.3: Under continuous heating at 86℃, add 4.5 parts by weight of composite filler to 48 parts by weight of wax liquid, stir at high speed for 30 minutes at a stirring speed of 1200 rpm, and stir until uniform to obtain a moisture-proof composite agent that can be directly coated. S4: Processing and preparation of incense. S4.1: The natural plant main fragrance is crushed and passed through a 100-mesh sieve. The natural plant main fragrance is composed of sandalwood, agarwood and cinnamon mixed in a mass ratio of 3:3:1. Take 72 parts by weight of the sieved natural plant main fragrance and add it to the mixer. While stirring, add 28 parts by weight of elm bark powder and stir for 20 minutes. Then, while stirring continuously, add 6.5 parts by weight of anti-bending composite filler and stir for 15 minutes to obtain incense powder. Subsequently, add deionized water to the incense powder. The mass ratio of incense powder to deionized water is 1:0.5. Stir for 25 minutes. Take out the mixed material and let it stand for 2 hours to obtain incense mud. S4.2: The incense paste is added to the incense extruder and extruded into shape. The extrusion pressure is 3MPa, the pressing diameter is 2.5mm, and the cutting length is 21cm to form an incense blank. S4.3: Place the incense blank in a cool and ventilated place and let it stand for 18 hours to set its shape. Then, dry it at 40℃ for 30 hours. After that, evenly coat the surface of the dried incense blank with a layer of moisture-proof composite agent with a coating thickness of 0.2 mm. Dry it at 27℃ for 21 hours to obtain incense.

[0022] Example 2 A method for preparing an easily preserved, natural, and environmentally friendly incense, specifically including the following steps: S1: Preparation of flexural strength composite filler S1.1: Crushed bagasse and passed through a 120-mesh sieve to obtain bagasse fiber. The bagasse fiber was immersed in a 3% sodium hydroxide solution at a solid-liquid ratio of 1:20 g / mL. The solution was heated to 60°C and stirred for 2 hours. The filter residue was collected and repeatedly washed with deionized water until it was neutral. The washed filter residue was placed in an oven at 110°C and dried until the moisture content was ≤5% to obtain pretreated bagasse fiber for later use. S1.2: Take 20 parts by weight of pretreated bagasse fiber and add it to 400 parts by weight of calcium chloride solution with a concentration of 0.4 mol / L. After ultrasonic dispersion for 5 min, slowly add 200 parts by weight of sodium carbonate solution with a concentration of 0.3 mol / L while stirring. The stirring speed is 400 rpm and the dropping speed is 2 mL / min. After the dropping is completed, continue stirring for 60 min. Then, let it stand for 3 h, filter and dry to obtain flexurally resistant composite filler. S2: Preparation of chitosan-sinapic acid complex, S2.1: Dissolve 15 parts by weight of chitosan in 200 parts by weight of acetic acid solution with a volume concentration of 3%, stir until clear and transparent to obtain chitosan solution, adjust the pH of chitosan solution to 4.6 with hydrochloric acid solution, and set aside. Dissolve 1 part by weight of ascorbic acid powder in 20 parts by weight of hydrogen peroxide solution with a concentration of 3 mol / L to obtain mixed solution. S2.2: Under nitrogen protection, the mixed solution from step S2.1 was added to the chitosan solution from step S2.1, and stirred at 26°C in the dark for 40 min. Then, 6 parts by weight of sinapic acid were added, and the reaction was continued in the dark for 24 h. After the reaction was completed, the pH of the reaction solution was adjusted to neutral with sodium hydroxide solution, and 360 parts by weight of 70% ethanol solution was added to precipitate the chitosan. Then, after rinsing, filtration and drying, the chitosan-sinapic acid complex was obtained. S3: Preparation of moisture-proof composite agent S3.1: Mix beeswax and rice bran wax evenly at a mass ratio of 2:1, place them in a water bath, and heat at 90°C until completely melted to obtain a wax liquid; S3.2: Add 8 parts by weight of chitosan-sinapic acid complex to 200 parts by weight of anhydrous ethanol and sonicate for 20 min to obtain a suspension. Dissolve 1.4 parts by weight of Tween-80 in 20 parts by weight of anhydrous ethanol to obtain a dropwise solution. Slowly add the dropwise solution to the suspension while stirring at 600 rpm and 1 mL / min. Continue stirring for 2 h after the dropwise addition is complete. Then filter, dry and sieve to obtain the composite filler. S3.3: Under continuous heating at 90℃, add 6 parts by weight of composite filler to 56 parts by weight of wax liquid, stir at high speed for 40 minutes at a stirring speed of 1400 rpm, and stir until uniform to obtain a moisture-proof composite agent that can be directly coated. S4: Processing and preparation of incense. S4.1: The natural plant main fragrance is crushed and passed through a 120-mesh sieve. The natural plant main fragrance is composed of sandalwood, agarwood and cinnamon mixed in a mass ratio of 3:3:1. Take 80 parts by weight of the sieved natural plant main fragrance and add it to the mixer. While stirring, add 32 parts by weight of elm bark powder and stir for 30 minutes. Then, while stirring continuously, add 9 parts by weight of anti-bending composite filler and stir for 20 minutes to obtain incense powder. Subsequently, add deionized water to the incense powder. The mass ratio of incense powder to deionized water is 1:0.6. Stir for 30 minutes. Take out the mixed material and let it stand for 3 hours to obtain incense mud. S4.2: The incense paste is added to the incense extruder and extruded into shape. The extrusion pressure is 3MPa, the pressing diameter is 2.5mm, and the cutting length is 21cm to form an incense blank. S4.3: Place the incense blank in a cool and ventilated place and let it stand for 18 hours. After shaping, dry it at 42℃ for 36 hours. Then, evenly coat the surface of the dried incense blank with a layer of moisture-proof composite agent with a coating thickness of 0.3 mm. Dry it at 30℃ for 24 hours to obtain incense.

[0023] Example 3 A method for preparing an easily preserved, natural, and environmentally friendly incense, specifically including the following steps: S1: Preparation of flexural strength composite filler S1.1: Crushed bagasse and passed through a 100-mesh sieve to obtain bagasse fiber. The bagasse fiber was immersed in a 3% sodium hydroxide solution at a solid-liquid ratio of 1:14 g / mL, heated to 50°C, stirred for 1 hour, filtered, and the filter residue was repeatedly washed with deionized water until it was neutral. The washed filter residue was placed in a 100°C oven and dried until the moisture content was ≤5% to obtain pretreated bagasse fiber for later use. S1.2: Take 10 parts by weight of pretreated bagasse fiber and add it to 250 parts by weight of calcium chloride solution with a concentration of 0.1 mol / L. After ultrasonic dispersion for 3 min, slowly add 100 parts by weight of sodium carbonate solution with a concentration of 0.1 mol / L while stirring. The stirring speed is 200 rpm and the dropping speed is 1 mL / min. After the dropping is completed, continue stirring for 30 min. Then, let it stand for 1 h, filter and dry to obtain flexurally resistant composite filler. S2: Preparation of chitosan-sinapic acid complex, S2.1: Dissolve 5 parts by weight of chitosan in 100 parts by weight of acetic acid solution with a volume concentration of 3%, stir until clear and transparent to obtain chitosan solution, adjust the pH of chitosan solution to 3.8 with hydrochloric acid solution, and set aside. Dissolve 0.4 parts by weight of ascorbic acid powder in 10 parts by weight of hydrogen peroxide solution with a concentration of 3 mol / L to obtain mixed solution. S2.2: Under nitrogen protection, the mixed solution from step S2.1 was added to the chitosan solution from step S2.1, and stirred at 22°C in the dark for 20 min. Then, 2.5 parts by weight of sinapic acid were added, and the reaction was continued in the dark for 18 h. After the reaction was completed, the pH of the reaction solution was adjusted to neutral with sodium hydroxide solution, and 200 parts by weight of 70% ethanol solution was added to precipitate the chitosan. Then, after rinsing, filtration and drying, the chitosan-sinapic acid complex was obtained. S3: Preparation of moisture-proof composite agent S3.1: Mix beeswax and rice bran wax evenly in a mass ratio of 1:1, place them in a water bath, and heat at 82°C until completely melted to obtain a wax liquid; S3.2: Add 4 parts by weight of chitosan-sinapic acid complex to 100 parts by weight of anhydrous ethanol and sonicate for 10 min to obtain a suspension. Dissolve 0.6 parts by weight of Tween-80 in 10 parts by weight of anhydrous ethanol to obtain a dropwise solution. Slowly add the dropwise solution to the suspension while stirring at 300 rpm and 0.5 mL / min. Continue stirring for 1 h after the dropwise addition is complete. Then filter, dry and sieve to obtain the composite filler. S3.3: Under continuous heating at 82℃, add 3 parts by weight of composite filler to 40 parts by weight of wax liquid, stir at high speed for 20 minutes at a stirring speed of 1000 rpm, and stir until uniform to obtain a moisture-proof composite agent that can be directly coated. S4: Processing and preparation of incense. S4.1: The natural plant main fragrance is crushed and passed through an 80-mesh sieve. The natural plant main fragrance is composed of sandalwood, agarwood and cinnamon mixed in a mass ratio of 3:3:1. Take 64 parts by weight of the sieved natural plant main fragrance and add it to the mixer. While stirring, add 24 parts by weight of elm bark powder and stir for 10 minutes. Then, while continuing to stir, add 4 parts by weight of anti-bending composite filler and stir for 10 minutes to obtain incense powder. Subsequently, add deionized water to the incense powder. The mass ratio of incense powder to deionized water is 1:0.4. Stir for 20 minutes. Take out the mixed material and let it stand for 1 hour to obtain incense mud. S4.2: The incense paste is added to the incense extruder and extruded into shape. The extrusion pressure is 3MPa, the pressing diameter is 2.5mm, and the cutting length is 21cm to form an incense blank. S4.3: Place the incense blank in a cool and ventilated place and let it stand for 12 hours to set. After that, dry it at 38℃ for 24 hours. Then, evenly coat the surface of the dried incense blank with a layer of moisture-proof composite agent with a coating thickness of 0.1 mm. Dry it at 25℃ for 18 hours to obtain incense.

[0024] Comparative Example 1 Compared with Example 1, the difference of Comparative Example 1 is that the anti-flexural composite filler in step S4.1 is replaced with an equal weight of the pretreated bagasse fiber in step S1.1, while the other steps remain unchanged, and incense is prepared, which is referred to as Comparative Example 1.

[0025] Comparative Example 2 Compared with Example 1, the difference of Comparative Example 2 is that the anti-flexural composite filler in step S4.1 is replaced with an equal weight of ultrafine calcium carbonate, while the other steps remain unchanged. Incense is prepared and is referred to as Comparative Example 2.

[0026] Comparative Example 3 Compared with Example 1, the difference of Comparative Example 3 is that the anti-flexural composite filler in step S4.1 is removed, while the other steps remain unchanged, and incense is prepared. This is referred to as Comparative Example 3.

[0027] Comparative Example 4 Compared with Example 1, Comparative Example 4 differs in that step S1.2 is removed. In 325 parts by weight of a 0.25 mol / L calcium chloride solution, 150 parts by weight of a 0.2 mol / L sodium carbonate solution is slowly added dropwise while stirring at 300 rpm and a dropping rate of 1.5 mL / min. After the addition is complete, stirring continues for 45 min. Then, the mixture is allowed to stand for 2 h, filtered, dried, and sieved to obtain calcium carbonate particles. The obtained calcium carbonate particles are then physically mixed with 15 parts by weight of the pretreated bagasse fiber obtained in S1.1 to obtain a physically mixed filler. The flexural composite filler in step S4.1 is replaced with an equal part by weight of the physically mixed filler. The remaining steps remain unchanged. Incense is prepared and designated as Comparative Example 4.

[0028] Bending strength test Five incense sticks of uniform thickness and without defects in appearance were selected from the incense sticks prepared in Examples 1-3 and Comparative Examples 1-4. A 100mm length of each incense stick was cut from the middle of the selected incense sticks as a sample. The bending strength of each group of samples was tested using an electronic universal testing machine. The maximum load force at the moment of fracture of each sample in each group was recorded. The average value of the maximum load force at the moment of fracture of each group of samples was calculated. The average value of the maximum load force at the moment of fracture was taken as the bending strength result of each group of incense sticks. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0029] Table 1:

[0030] As shown in Table 1, the flexural strength of the incense prepared in Examples 1-3 is ≥63.3N, which is significantly better than that of the incense prepared in Comparative Examples 1-4. Although the flexural strength of Comparative Example 1 (using only pretreated bagasse fiber as filler), Comparative Example 2 (using only ultrafine calcium carbonate as filler), and Comparative Example 4 (using physically mixed filler) is higher than that of Comparative Example 3 (using no filler), it is still much lower than that of Examples 1-3. This indicates that by depositing calcium carbonate particles on the surface of bagasse fiber to form a flexurally resistant composite filler, the flexural strength of the incense can be effectively improved. After being combined, the bagasse fiber and calcium carbonate particles in the flexurally resistant composite filler can form a synergistic reinforcing network in the incense, which disperses stress and reduces the risk of breakage when the incense is subjected to external pressure and bending.

[0031] Comparative Example 5 Compared with Example 1, Comparative Example 5 differs in that steps S3.2-S3.3 are removed, the moisture-proof composite agent in step S4.3 is replaced with the wax liquid in step S3.1, and the remaining steps remain unchanged. Incense is prepared and is referred to as Comparative Example 5.

[0032] Comparative Example 6 Compared with Example 1, Comparative Example 6 differs in that step S3.1 is removed, and the wax liquid in step S3.3 is replaced with an equal weight of paraffin liquid, which is obtained by melting paraffin. The remaining steps remain unchanged, and incense is prepared. This is referred to as Comparative Example 6.

[0033] Comparative Example 7 Compared with Example 1, the difference of Comparative Example 7 is that step S3.1 is removed, and the wax liquid used in step S3.3 is replaced with an equal part by weight of beeswax liquid, which is obtained by melting beeswax. The remaining steps remain unchanged, and incense is prepared. This is called Comparative Example 7.

[0034] Comparative Example 8 Compared with Example 1, the difference of Comparative Example 8 is that step S3.1 is removed, and the wax liquid in step S3.3 is replaced with an equal weight of rice bran wax liquid. The rice bran wax liquid is obtained by melting rice bran wax. The remaining steps remain unchanged. Incense is prepared and is referred to as Comparative Example 8.

[0035] Five incense sticks of uniform thickness and without defects in appearance were selected from the incense prepared in Examples 1-3 and Comparative Examples 5-8. A 100mm length of each incense stick was cut from the middle of the selected incense stick as a sample. The initial mass of each sample in each group was recorded as m0. All samples were placed in a constant temperature and humidity chamber at a temperature of 28℃ and a relative humidity of 90%RH. After 48h, the samples were taken out and the moisture on the surface of each sample was quickly wiped off with a lint-free cloth. The mass of each sample in each group was measured immediately and recorded as m1. The moisture absorption rate of each sample was calculated, and the average moisture absorption rate of each group of samples was calculated. The average moisture absorption rate was taken as the moisture absorption test result of each group of incense sticks. The results are shown in Table 2.

[0036] The formula for calculating moisture absorption rate is: Moisture absorption rate ; Five incense sticks of uniform thickness and without defects in appearance were selected from the incense prepared in Examples 1-3 and Comparative Examples 5-8 as samples. Each group of samples was ignited, and the time required for complete combustion was recorded. If a sample exhibited abnormalities such as extinguishing or breaking during combustion, its complete combustion time was not recorded; only the actual abnormality was recorded. The average complete combustion time of the samples with normal combustion was calculated, and the average complete combustion time and any abnormalities were used as the combustion results for each group of incense. The results are shown in Table 2.

[0037] Table 2:

[0038] As shown in Table 2, the moisture absorption rate of the incense prepared in Examples 1-3 is ≤2.05%, which is higher than that of the incense prepared in Comparative Examples 5-8. Furthermore, the combustion results show that the incense prepared in Examples 1-3 has a shorter complete combustion time and a stable combustion process without any abnormal interruptions such as extinguishing. Comparative Example 5, which removed the preparation step of the composite filler and only used wax liquid for coating, not only had a longer combustion time but also exhibited extinguishing phenomena in some samples, indicating a defect in combustion performance. This demonstrates that using a moisture-proof composite agent composed of beeswax, rice bran wax, and composite filler as a coating on the surface of the incense not only better improves the moisture-proof performance of the incense, effectively blocking moisture penetration and exhibiting a lower moisture absorption rate, but also ensures the air permeability of the incense, resulting in sufficient oxygen supply and stable and complete combustion. Comparative Example 6 uses paraffin wax instead of the beeswax and rice bran wax composite wax. Compared to Examples 1-3, Comparative Example 6 has a higher moisture absorption rate and a longer combustion time, indicating that paraffin wax is more effective than... The compound wax liquid of beeswax and rice bran wax has poor moisture-proof performance. Furthermore, paraffin wax, as a chemically synthesized wax, has a single crystal form, and its crystalline structure cannot form good gas channels with the composite filler, resulting in poor breathability of the incense. Comparative Examples 7-8 eliminated the beeswax and rice bran wax compounding step, using beeswax liquid and rice bran wax liquid respectively instead of the compound wax liquid. Their moisture absorption rates were 2.79% and 2.83%, respectively, both significantly higher than those of Examples 1-3, and their burning times were 45.3m. The time to 44.1 min is significantly longer than in Examples 1-3, indicating that the synergistic moisture-proof advantage of the beeswax and rice bran wax compound system is significantly better than that of using beeswax liquid or rice bran wax liquid alone. The microcrystals of rice bran wax can serve as nucleation sites for beeswax crystallization, promoting the growth of beeswax microcrystals to form an interlaced microcrystalline network structure. The hydrophobic barrier ability of this structure is far superior to that of the crystal structure of beeswax or rice bran wax alone. Furthermore, the interlaced microcrystalline network can work synergistically with the composite filler to form gas channels, improving the oxygen supply efficiency of the incense.

[0039] Comparative Example 9 Compared with Example 1, the difference of Comparative Example 9 is that step S2 is removed, 10 parts by weight of chitosan and 4.25 parts by weight of sinapic acid are directly stirred and mixed to obtain a physically mixed powder, and the chitosan-sinapic acid complex in step S3.2 is replaced with an equal weight of the physically mixed powder. The other steps remain unchanged, and incense is prepared. This is called Comparative Example 9.

[0040] Antibacterial test Five incense sticks of uniform thickness and without any defects in appearance were selected from the incense sticks prepared in Examples 1-3 and Comparative Examples 5 and 9. The selected incense sticks were cut into 50 mm lengths from the middle position as samples.

[0041] The mature Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Penicillium agar plates were rinsed separately with sterile saline. The plates were then filtered through sterile gauze, and spore suspensions were collected to obtain Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Penicillium spore suspensions. The spore concentration of each of the three suspensions was adjusted to 1 × 10⁻⁶. 5 ~1×10 6 CFU / mL, then, the Aspergillus niger spore suspension, Aspergillus flavus spore suspension and Penicillium spore suspension were mixed at a mass ratio of 1:1:1 to obtain a mold spore suspension for later use.

[0042] All samples were sterilized at high temperature. Using sterile forceps, all sterilized samples were placed flat on the surface of sterile PDA culture medium, with one sample on each sterile PDA culture medium. After the samples were placed, 1 mL of mold spore suspension was evenly sprayed onto each sterile PDA culture medium. After inoculation, the inoculated PDA culture medium was placed in an incubator at 28℃ for 28 days. Observations and records were made on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 during the incubation period. The mold coverage area on the surface of each group of samples was recorded, and the percentage of mold coverage area was calculated (i.e., mold coverage area ÷ sample surface area * 100%). The anti-mold grade of each group of samples was evaluated according to the following rating criteria, and the average anti-mold grade of each group of samples was calculated. The average anti-mold grade was taken as the antibacterial result of each group of incense. The results are shown in Table 3.

[0043] Rating criteria:

[0044] Table 3:

[0045] As shown in Table 3, after a 28-day antibacterial test, the incense prepared in Examples 1-3 consistently maintained an anti-mold rating of 0, with no mold growth on the surface. Their antibacterial performance was significantly superior to Comparative Examples 5 and 9. Comparative Example 5 showed slight mold spots on day 7, followed by rapid mold growth, reaching significant mold spots by day 28. This indicates that the pure hydrophobic wax film without composite fillers does not possess antibacterial activity. Mold spores easily proliferate on the surface of the incense under suitable temperatures. Mold; Comparative Example 9 showed comparable antibacterial effects to Examples 1-3 (Grade 0) on day 7, but mold spots began to appear after day 14, and the grade continued to increase over time, reaching Grade 2.7 on day 28. This indicates that the antibacterial effect of simply mixing chitosan and sinapic acid is not long-lasting. Compared to the simple mixing of chitosan and sinapic acid, the chitosan-sinapic acid complex, after forming a homogeneous system through chemical bonding, exhibits stronger antibacterial stability and more lasting inhibition of mold growth and reproduction, thus achieving long-lasting antibacterial protection for incense.

[0046] It should be understood that those skilled in the art can make improvements or modifications based on the above description, and all such improvements and modifications should fall within the protection scope of the appended claims. Parts not described in detail in this specification belong to prior art known to those skilled in the art. The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make several improvements and modifications without departing from the principles of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A natural and environmentally friendly incense that is easy to preserve, characterized in that, The preparation steps are as follows: the incense powder is mixed with deionized water to make incense paste, left to stand and age, extruded and shaped to form incense blanks, shaped and dried to obtain dried incense blanks, a layer of moisture-proof composite agent is coated on the surface of the dried incense blanks, and then dried to obtain incense. The raw materials for preparing incense powder include: 64-80 parts by weight of natural plant main fragrance, 24-32 parts by weight of natural binder and 4-9 parts by weight of flexural strength composite filler; The raw materials for preparing the moisture-proof composite agent include: 40-56 parts by weight of wax liquid and 3-6 parts by weight of composite filler. The wax liquid is obtained by mixing and melting beeswax and rice bran wax at a mass ratio of (1-2):

1. The composite filler is a chitosan-sinapic acid complex with a surfactant coated on the surface. The raw materials for preparing the chitosan-sinapic acid complex include: 5-15 parts by weight of chitosan, 100-200 parts by weight of acetic acid solution with a volume concentration of 3%, 0.4-1 parts by weight of ascorbic acid powder, 10-20 parts by weight of hydrogen peroxide solution with a concentration of 3 mol / L, 2.5-6 parts by weight of sinapic acid, and 200-360 parts by weight of ethanol solution with a volume concentration of 70%. The flexural strength composite filler is bagasse fiber with calcium carbonate deposited on its surface.

2. The easily preserved natural and environmentally friendly incense according to claim 1, characterized in that, Natural plant-based fragrances include at least one of sandalwood, agarwood, cypress, camphor, clove, and cinnamon.

3. The easily preserved natural and environmentally friendly incense according to claim 2, characterized in that, Natural adhesives include at least one of nanmu powder and elm bark powder.

4. The easily preserved natural and environmentally friendly incense according to claim 3, characterized in that, The mass ratio of incense powder to deionized water is 1:(0.4-0.6).

5. A method for preparing easily preserved natural and environmentally friendly incense according to claim 1, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: Preparation of flexural composite filler: Sugarcane bagasse is crushed and sieved to obtain bagasse fiber. The bagasse fiber is pretreated with sodium hydroxide solution to obtain pretreated bagasse fiber. The pretreated bagasse fiber is added to calcium chloride solution and ultrasonically dispersed. Sodium carbonate solution is added dropwise while stirring. After the addition is completed, stirring is continued for a period of time. After standing, filtration and drying, flexural composite filler is obtained. S2: Preparation of chitosan-sinapic acid complex: Chitosan was dissolved in acetic acid solution to obtain chitosan solution. The pH of the chitosan solution was adjusted to acidic with hydrochloric acid solution. Ascorbic acid powder was dissolved in hydrogen peroxide solution to obtain mixed solution. Under nitrogen protection, the mixed solution and sinapic acid were added to the chitosan solution and stirred in the dark. After the reaction was completed, the pH of the solution was adjusted to neutral with sodium hydroxide solution. Ethanol solution was added to precipitate the reacted chitosan. After rinsing, filtration and drying, chitosan-sinapic acid complex was obtained. S3: Preparation of moisture-proof composite agent: After beeswax and rice bran wax are mixed evenly and heated to melt, a wax liquid is obtained. The chitosan-sinapic acid complex is coated with a surfactant, Tween-80, to obtain a composite filler. Under continuous heating, the composite filler is added to the wax liquid and stirred evenly to obtain a moisture-proof composite agent. S4: Preparation of incense: Natural plant main fragrance is crushed and sieved, then added to a mixer. While stirring, natural binder and anti-bending composite filler are added to the mixer and stirred evenly to obtain incense powder. Then, deionized water is added to the incense powder, stirred and mixed, and allowed to stand for aging to obtain incense paste. The incense paste is extruded and shaped into incense blanks. After shaping and drying, a layer of moisture-proof composite agent is evenly coated on the surface of the dried incense blanks and dried to obtain incense.

6. The method for preparing an easily preserved, natural, and environmentally friendly incense according to claim 5, characterized in that, Step S1, the preparation of the flexural composite filler, specifically includes the following steps: S1.1: Crush sugarcane bagasse and pass it through a 100-120 mesh sieve to obtain bagasse fiber. Immerse the bagasse fiber in a 3% sodium hydroxide solution at a solid-liquid ratio of 1:(14-20) g / mL, heat to 50-60℃, stir for 1-2 hours, filter and collect the filter residue. Wash the filter residue repeatedly with deionized water until it is neutral. Place the washed filter residue in an oven at 100-110℃ and dry it until the moisture content is ≤5% to obtain pretreated bagasse fiber for later use. S1.2: Take 10-20 parts by weight of pretreated bagasse fiber and add it to 250-400 parts by weight of calcium chloride solution with a concentration of 0.1-0.4 mol / L. After ultrasonic dispersion for 3-5 min, slowly add 100-200 parts by weight of sodium carbonate solution with a concentration of 0.1-0.3 mol / L while stirring. The stirring speed is 200-400 rpm and the adding speed is 1-2 mL / min. After the adding is completed, continue stirring for 30-60 min. Then, let it stand for 1-3 h, filter and dry to obtain flexurally resistant composite filler.

7. The method for preparing an easily preserved, natural, and environmentally friendly incense according to claim 6, characterized in that, Step S2, the preparation of the chitosan-sinapic acid complex, specifically includes the following steps: S2.1: Dissolve 5-15 parts by weight of chitosan in 100-200 parts by weight of acetic acid solution with a volume concentration of 3%, stir until clear and transparent to obtain chitosan solution, adjust the pH of chitosan solution to 3.8-4.6 with hydrochloric acid solution, and set aside. Dissolve 0.4-1 parts by weight of ascorbic acid powder in 10-20 parts by weight of hydrogen peroxide solution with a concentration of 3 mol / L to obtain mixed solution. S2.2: Under nitrogen protection, the mixed solution from step S2.1 is added to the chitosan solution from step S2.1, and stirred in the dark at 22-26°C for 20-40 min. Then, 2.5-6 parts by weight of sinapic acid are added, and the reaction is continued in the dark for 18-24 h. After the reaction is completed, the pH of the reaction solution is adjusted to neutral with sodium hydroxide solution, and 200-360 parts by weight of 70% ethanol solution is added to precipitate the chitosan. Then, after rinsing, filtration and drying, the chitosan-sinapic acid complex is obtained.

8. The method for preparing an easily preserved, natural, and environmentally friendly incense according to claim 7, characterized in that, The preparation of the moisture-proof composite agent in step S3 specifically includes the following steps: S3.1: Mix beeswax and rice bran wax evenly at a mass ratio of (1-2):1, place them in a water bath, and heat at 82-90℃ until completely melted to obtain wax liquid; S3.2: Add 4-8 parts by weight of chitosan-sinapic acid complex to 100-200 parts by weight of anhydrous ethanol and ultrasonically disperse for 10-20 min to obtain a suspension. Dissolve 0.6-1.4 parts by weight of Tween-80 in 10-20 parts by weight of anhydrous ethanol to obtain a dropwise solution. Slowly add the dropwise solution to the obtained suspension while stirring at a stirring speed of 300-600 rpm and a dropping rate of 0.5-1 mL / min. After the dropwise addition is completed, continue stirring for 1-2 h. Then, filter, dry and sieve to obtain the composite filler. S3.3: Under continuous heating at 82-90℃, add 3-6 parts by weight of composite filler to 40-56 parts by weight of wax liquid, stir at high speed for 20-40 minutes at a stirring speed of 1000-1400 rpm until uniform, and obtain a moisture-proof composite agent that can be directly coated.

9. The method for preparing an easily preserved, natural, and environmentally friendly incense according to claim 8, characterized in that, Step S4: Incense processing and preparation, specifically including the following steps: S4.1: Crush the main natural plant fragrance and pass it through an 80-120 mesh sieve. Take 64-80 parts by weight of the sieved main natural plant fragrance and add it to a mixer. While stirring, add 24-32 parts by weight of natural binder and stir for 10-30 minutes. Then, while continuing to stir, add 4-9 parts by weight of anti-bending composite filler and stir for 10-20 minutes to obtain incense powder. Subsequently, add deionized water to the incense powder. The mixing mass ratio of incense powder to deionized water is 1:(0.4-0.6). Stir for 20-30 minutes. Take out the mixed material and let it stand for aging for 1-3 hours to obtain incense mud. S4.2: The incense paste is added into the incense extruder and extruded to form an incense blank; S4.3: Lay the incense blank flat and let it stand for 12-24 hours. After shaping, dry it at 38-42℃ for 24-36 hours. Then, evenly coat the surface of the dried incense blank with a moisture-proof composite agent and dry it at 25-30℃ for 18-24 hours to obtain incense.

10. The method for preparing an easily preserved, natural, and environmentally friendly incense according to claim 9, characterized in that, The coating thickness of the moisture-proof composite agent is 0.1 to 0.3 mm.

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