Electronic Theses and Dissertation

Penelitian ini berfokus pada pemanfaatan katalis heterogen dari bahan alam (Fe2O3 dan zeolit) yang diaplikasikan pada reaksi sintesis biodiesel (metil ester). Preparasi katalis telah dilakukan dengan mengimpregnasikan Fe2O3 ke dalam zeolit, dengan metode impregnasi basah dan dikalsinasi pada suhu 700o C selama 5 jam. Hasil karakterisasi menggunakan X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) menunjukan bahwa material hasil impregnasi didominasi oleh senyawa Fe2O3, SiO2 dan AlNaSi3O8. Hasil difraktogram menunjukan adanya kristal Fe2O3 pada komposit hematit-zeolit. Hal ini didasarkan pada penyesuaian puncak difraksi dengan database JCPDS. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) menunjukan bahwa partikel Fe2O3 menyebar pada permukaan partikel zeolit. Berdasarkan hasil analisis Gas chromatography mass spektrofotometer (GC-MS) reaksi transesterifikasi untuk menghasilkan metil ester berhasil dilakukan. Komposisi metil ester asam lemak didominasi oleh metil oleat dan metil palmitat. Biodiesel yang dihasilkan memiliki bilangan asam yang relatif rendah yaitu berkisar 0,14 – 0,23 mg-KOH/g dan sesuai dengan standar SNI. Nilai viskositas dan densitas yang diperoleh juga reatif rendah, secara berturut-turut bernilai 1,3 – 1,6 cSt dan 0,7992 – 0,8022 g/mL dan tidak memenuhi standar mutu (SNI).

This study was focused on the use of heterogeneous catalysts from natural materials (Fe2O3 and zeolite) which are applied to the synthesis reaction of biodiesel (methyl ester). The preparation of the catalyst was carried out by impregnating Fe2O3 into the zeolite, using the wet impregnation method and calcining at 700 oC for 5 hours. The characterization results using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) showed that the impregnated material was dominated by Fe2O3, SiO2 and AlNaSi3O8 compounds. The results of the diffractogram showed the presence of Fe2O3 crystals in the hematite-zeolite composite. This is based on matching the diffraction peaks to the JCPDS database. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) shows that Fe2O3 particles spread on the surface of the zeolite particles. Based on the results of Gas chromatography mass spectrophotometer (GC-MS) analysis, the transesterification reaction to produce methyl ester was successfully carried out. The composition of fatty acid methyl esters is dominated by methyl oleic and methyl palmitate. The resulting biodiesel has a relatively low acid number ranging from 0.14 to 0.23 mg-KOH/g and conforms to SNI standards. The viscosity and density values obtained were also relatively low, respectively 1.3 – 1.6 cSt and 0.7992 – 0.8022 g/mL and did not meet the quality standard (SNI).