Prarancangan Pabrik Pembuatan Asam Formiat melalui Proses Oksidasi dari Hasil Hidrolisis Pati Biji Durian dengan Kapasitas 14.000 Ton/Tahun

Abstract

Formic acid is a saturated organic compound with the molecular formula CH2O2 that is extensively utilized across various industrial sectors, including textiles, leather tanning, pharmaceuticals, and animal feed. Currently, the demand for formic acid in Indonesia relies heavily on imports due to insufficient domestic production capacity. This plant design aims to utilize durian seed waste as an abundant renewable raw material through the oxidation of starch hydrolysis products. The plant is designed with a production capacity of 14,000 tons/year and is planned to operate continuously for 330 days per year. The production process comprises three primary stages: raw material preparation, hydrolysis and oxidation reactions, and product purification. The hydrolysis of starch into glucose occurs in a Continuous Stirred-Tank Reactor (CSTR) using a NaOH catalyst at 150°C and a pressure of 5 atm. The subsequent stage involves the oxidation of glucose using hydrogen peroxide CH2O2 in a CSTR under the same operating conditions to produce formic acid. Product purification is conducted via an extractive distillation system utilizing sulfolane as an entrainer to overcome the azeotropic properties of the formic acidwater mixture, resulting in a final product with a purity of 95.56%. The plant is planned to be established in the Sei Mangkei Industrial Zone, Simalungun Regency, North Sumatra, occupying a land area of 17,903.16 m2. The company will be incorporated as a Limited Liability Company (PT) with a line organizational structure, employing 150 personnel. Based on the economic evaluation, the plant requires a Capital Investment of IDR 573,096,610,808 with an annual Total Cost of Rp463,672,946,056. Feasibility analysis indicates a Profit Margin (PM) of 20.61078%, a Return on Investment (ROI) of 24.9976%, an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 22.8980%, and a Pay Out Time (POT) of 4 years. The Break-Even Point (BEP) is achieved at 49.9809% capacity. Based on these technical and economic parameters, the design of this formic acid production plant from durian seed starch is declared feasible for establishment.