Prarancangan Pabrik Pembuatan Asam Linoleat dari Biji Jagung melalui Proses Hidrolisis Colgate-Emery dengan Kapasitas 4.800 Ton/Tahun

Abstract

The demand for linoleic acid in Indonesia, as an essential fatty acid, continues to increase each year, as reflected in the rising import volumes. Therefore, boosting domestic production is crucial to reduce dependence on imports and to support national economic growth. Corn oil is a promising raw material due to its high linoleic acid content, which can reach up to 60% by weight of total fatty acids. Moreover, the underutilization of corn in Indonesia has led to economic losses for farmers, making corn a suitable choice as a feedstock for linoleic acid production. This preliminary plant design proposes the production of linoleic acid from corn kernels via Colgate-Emery hydrolysis process, with a production capacity of 4,800 tons per year and an operating period of 330 days annually. The main processes include corn oil extraction, oil degumming, oil hydrolysis with water, and fatty acid crystallization. The plant is planned to be located in Serba Jadi District, Serdang Bedagai Regency, North Sumatra, covering a land area of 21,717 m². The business will operate as a limited liability company (PT) with a line-and-staff organizational structure employing 171 workers. The total investment required is estimated at IDR 377,336,481,249, with annual production costs of IDR 351,917,994,155. Based on the feasibility analysis, the project yields a Profit Margin of 32.2%, a Break-Even Point (BEP) of 32.4%, a Return on Investment (ROI) of 35.5%, a Pay Out Time (POT) of 2.82 years, a Return on Net Worth (RON) of 59.2%, and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 37.8%. These indicators suggest that the proposed linoleic acid plant is economically feasible and viable for development.