Transesterification Condition of Crude Palm Oil to Biodiesel Using Solid Catalyst Zeolite/NaOH

Abstract

The use of NaOH as a catalyst for biodiesel production has long been used and provides high conversion conversions. Homogeneous NaOH phase during the transesterification reaction causes soap to form at the end of the process. Soap is diseparasi from biodiesel by washing and decantation techniques. The presence of soap can reduce the quality of biodiesel, especially at the flash point of biodiesel. Heterogeneous catalyst zeolite / NaOH is synthesized from natural zeolite and NaOH through the impregnation method. Natural zeolite is contained in natural rock obtained from Ujong Pancu, Aceh Besar. The synthesis of natural zeolite catalyst was initiated by activating zeolite powder with 4 M HCl for 10 hours at 90oC. Activated zeolite was impregnated using 2.5% NaOH at a ratio of 1: 2 (w / v) at 90oC for 2 hours. Application of zeolite / NaOH in transesterification reaction using crude palm oil off grade. The results showed that the use of zeolite / NaOH can prevent the formation of soap with characteristics that have met SNI 04-7182-2006 standards.