ESTERIFIKASI ASAM LEMAK BEBAS DALAM MINYAK JELANTAH DENGAN KATALIS Fe2O3-MONTMORILLONIT DAN DAMPAKNYA TERHADAP BIODIESEL YANG DIHASILKAN

Oleh :
AGUS SUPRIYANTO - M0304021 -

Agus Supriyanto. 2009. ESTERIFICATION OF FREE FATTY ACIDS FROM USED COOKING OILS USING Fe2O3-MONTMORILLONIT CATALYST AND IT’S IMPACT ON THE BIODIESEL PRODUCT. Thesis. Department of Chemistry. Mathematics and Natural Sciences faculty. Sebelas Maret University. Synthesis of Fe2O3-montmorillonite and the catalyst performance for free fatty acid esterification from used cooking oils have been done and applied for transesterification reaction to biodiesel product. Synthesis of Fe2O3-montmorillonite was performed by pillarization using oligocation of iron into montmorillonite space layers, followed by calcinations up to 300 o C for 5 hours by temperature grade 1 o C per minute. Esterification was conducted with weight variation of Fe2O3-montmorillonit 0,1; 0,5; 1,0; 5,0 and 10,0% (w/w) from oil and methanol with mol ratio 1:6 at 70 o C for 2 hours, while transesterification reactions were conducted by various mol ratio of oil and methanol 1:6, 1:12, 1:18, 1:24 and 1:30 at the same conditions. Fe2O3- montmorillonite was characterized using XRD (X-Ray Difractometer) and EDX (Energy Dispersive X-Ray). Transesterification products were analyzed by ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials) and Dirjen Migas Standard. Characterization by XRD indicated that pillarization of montmorillonite causing basal spacing shift were 2θ smaller than main top of 5,57o . EDX data showed that Fe content in montmorillonite increased from 17,94% to 19,55%. The use of Fe2O3-montmorillonit at 10% oil weight and methanol was the most effective to reduce free fatty acid content. It was proven by acid number 0,0798 mg KOH/g. Transesterification reactions were achieved optimum at 1:12 of mol ratio oil and methanol in 79,34% yield. Physical properties of biodiesel e.g. specific gravity, kinematic viscocity, cloud point, flash point and cooper strip corrosion have fulfilled ASTM and Dirjen Migas standard requirements, while carbon residue, water content and sediment have not met to both standard. Key words: Fe2O3-montmorillonite, free fatty acid in used cooking oils, esterification.