Prarancangan Pabrik Biolubricant dari Asam Oleat Menggunakan Proses Epoksidasi dengan Kapasitas 4.500 Ton/Tahun

Abstract

Global population growth and industrialization are increasing the consumption of dwindling petroleum resources. One of the main users is internal combustion engines, where one-third of the energy is lost due to friction. Petroleum-based lubricants cause pollution due to their toxic and non-biodegradable properties. As an environmentally friendly alternative, biolubricants from vegetable oils are biodegradable and non-toxic. Oleic acid from palm oil was chosen as the raw material due to Indonesia's position as the largest palm oil producer. In the initial stage, oleic acid was reacted with methanol in an esterification reactor using a 2.5 wt.% sulfuric acid catalyst at a temperature of 80 °C and a pressure of 1 atm to produce methyl oleate. In the next stage, methyl oleate is reacted with performic acid (formed in situ from the reaction of formic acid and hydrogen peroxide) in an epoxidation reactor with a 1.5 wt.% sulfuric acid catalyst at a temperature of 40°C and a pressure of 1 atm, producing methyl oleate epoxide. The mixture is separated using a decanter to separate methyl oleate epoxide and methyl oleate from other components. Then, methyl oleate epoxide and methyl oleate are separated using a distillation column at a temperature of 311.9°C and a pressure of 100 mmHg. In the final stage, methyl oleate epoxy is reacted with 2-ethylhexanol in an oxirane ring-opening reactor using a 5 wt.% 4-methylbenzenesulfonic acid catalyst at a temperature of 80°C and a pressure of 1 atm, producing a biolubricant. The final product is then purified through a decanter and cooled to 30°C before being transferred to a storage tank. The plant is planned to be built in Cikokol, Tangerang District, Banten, with a land area of 8,724.1 m². The planned business entity is a Limited Liability Company (PT) with a line and staff organizational structure and 162 employees. The economic feasibility analysis shows an investment capital of IDR 535,376,858,738, production costs of IDR 353,584,603,181, annual sales of IDR 503,997,054,982, and a net profit of IDR 109,695,801,099 with a profit margin of of 27.90%, a return on investment (ROI) of 20.49%, a break-even point (BEP) of 49.97%, a payout time (POT) of 4 years, 10 months, and 24 days, a return on network (RON) of 34.15%, and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 19.12%. Based on the economic results, it can be concluded that this biolubricant manufacturing plant is feasible to establish.