Effect of reaction temperature on biodiesel production from refined bleached and deodorized palm olein using heterogeneous catalyst from indigofera ( Indigofera zollingeriana) leaves ash

Abstract

Biodiesel was produced in considering the best operating conditions as an environment-friendly alternative fuel. One of the operating conditions in biodiesel production is reaction temperature, which influences increasing biodiesel yield. This research aims to study the reaction temperature affects biodiesel production by heterogeneous catalysts from indigofera leaves ash. The research procedure consisted of preparing an indigofera leaves ash catalyst with a particle size of 100 mesh, which was put inside a 700 °C furnace to calcined for 3 hours. The transesterification process of biodiesel involving refined bleached and deodorized palm olein was heated with temperature variations of 55, 60, and 65 °C, then methanol was added with a molar ratio of 9:1 to the oil and 3 wt% catalyst. The reaction was carried out in a container with stirring using a magnetic stirrer at 300 rpm for 120 minutes. Based on the research results, the best yield was obtained at 94.2% obtained at a temperature operating condition of 60 °C. Based on gas chromatography results, biodiesel's major composition is palmitic acid (C16:0) and oleic acid (C18:1), which are 38.79% and 44.96%, respectively.