Pemanfaatan Katalis Zeolit Alam Blitar Teraktivasi  Asam dan Basa untuk Sintesis Biodiesel dari Minyak Jelantah dengan Metode Esterifikasi dan Transesterifikasi

Utilization of Acid and Base Activated Natural Zeolite Catalysts from Blitar for The Synthesis of Biodiesel from Wasted Cooking Oil by Esterification and Transesterification Method

Kebutuhan energi terbesar di dunia didominasi oleh energi fosil. Kondisi ini dapat mengakibatkan menipisnya cadangan energi hingga kelangkaan energi fosil sehingga diperlukan solusi berupa energi alternatif. Salah satunya yaitu biodiesel yang merupakan energi terbarukan dan ramah lingkungan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk sintesis biodiesel dari minyak jelantah menggunakan reaksi esterifikasi dan transesterifikasi dengan bantuan katalis zeolit alam teraktivasi asam HCl 3M (ZA-H) dan zeolit alam teraktivasi basa KOH 4,4M (ZA-OH). Karakterisasi katalis dilakukan menggunakan FT-IR, XRD, dan XRF. Kondisi reaksi esterifikasi dan transesterfikasi dilakukan pada suhu 60 °C,, rasio mol minyak dan alkohol 1:7, kecepatan pengadukan 500 rpm, dan berat katalis 3% dari berat minyak. Variasi perbandingan katalis ZA-H dan ZA-OH disiapkan sebesar 30:70, 50:50, dan 70:30. Kadar yield metil ester yang dihasilkan menggunakan GC-MS. Yield metil ester terbesar diperoleh pada perbandingan katalis 30:70 yaitu sebesar 84,4% dengan nilai bilangan asam 1,117 mg-KOH/g, nilai densitas 0,37 g/mL, kadar air 0,12%, dan nilai viskositas 5,81 mm²/s (cSt).

Kata Kunci: Biodiesel, katalis biodiesel, zeolit alam, minyak jelantah, esterifikasi-transesterifikasi.

The largest energy demands in the world are dominated by fossil energy. This condition can result in the depletion of energy reserves and the scarcity of fossil energy, so a solution in the form of alternative energy is needed. One of them is biodiesel, which is a renewable and environmentally friendly energy source. This research aims to synthesize biodiesel from used cooking oil using esterification and transesterification reactions with the help of  HCl 3M acid-activated natural zeolite catalysts (ZA-H) and KOH 4,4M base-activated natural zeolite (ZA-OH). Catalyst characterization was carried out using FT-IR, XRD, and XRF. The esterification and transesterification reaction conditions were carried out at a temperature of 60 °C, a mole ratio of oil and alcohol of 1:7, a stirring speed of 500 rpm, and a catalyst weight of 3% of the oil weight. Varying ratios of ZA-H and ZA-OH catalysts were prepared at 30:70, 50:50, and 70:30. Methyl ester yield levels were produced using GC-MS. The largest yield of methyl ester was obtained at a catalyst ratio of 30:70, namely 84,4%, with an acid number value of 1,117 mg KOH/g, a density value of 0,37 g/mL, a water content of 0,12%, and a viscosity value of 5,81 mm2/s (cSt).

Keywords: Biodiesel, biodiesel catalyst, natural zeolite, used cooking oil, esterification-transesterification.