Synthesis of 2-Hydroxy-Ethyl Ester from Peanut Oil as a Bio-Additive for Diesel Fuel

Abstract

Greenhouse gas emissions increase with the use of diesel fuel. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions can be done by using the desulphuration method. However, low sulfur in diesel fuel causes low lubricity values. One of solutions to this problem is by adding a bio-additive compound. In this research, the synthesis of 2-hydroxyethyl ester compounds as a bio-additive obtained by the transesterification reaction of peanut oil with ethylene glycol and K2CO3 catalyst will be carried out. The simple reflux is used with a molar ratio of ethylene glycol and triglycerides of 10: 1 with K2CO3 of 9% mole of triglycerides. The conversion to the product was 77.47%. Product characterization was carried out using Mass Spectrometry Gas Chromatography (GC-MS). Based on chromatograms, the total abundance of the 2-hydroxyethyl ester is 54.69%. This compound can be used as an alternative bio-additive lubricity improver.