Pemanfaatan Abu Daun Indigofera ( Indigofera zollingeriana ) sebagai "Green Catalyst" pada Pembuatan Biodiesel dari Refined Bleached Deodorized Palm Olein

Abstract

Biodiesel as an environmentally friendly alternative fuel is produced by considering the best operating conditions with the help of a catalyst to increase biodiesel yield. Heterogeneous catalysts can be produced from indigofera leaves (Indigofera zollingeriana). This study aims to characterize the calcined indigofera leaf ash as a catalyst in the manufacture of biodiesel, evaluate t he best temperature of the calcination of indigofera leaf ash at 500, 600, 700, and 800 °C for 3 hours as a catalyst in the manufacture of biodiesel and apply the resulting indigofera leaf ash as a heterogeneous catalyst in the manufacture of biodiesel fro m RBDPO. The research procedure is manufacturing an indigofera leaf ash catalyst with a particle size passing a 100 mesh sieve, which is calcined using a furnace at a temperature of 700 °C for 3 hours. The biodiesel transesterification stage involves RBDPO heated at various temperatures of 55, 60, and 65 °C, methanol was added with a molar ratio of 6:1, 9:1, and 12:1 to oil and catalysts of 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% by weight. The reaction was carried out with a magnetic stirrer stirring at 300 rpm for 90, 120, 15 0, and 180 minutes. Based on the results of the study, the highest biodiesel yield was obtained at 94.20% at a calcination temperature of 700 OC, a catalyst amount of 3%, a reaction temperature of 60 OC, a mole ratio of oil to methanol of 1:9, and a reacti on time of 120 minutes. Analysis using Gas Chromatography on the significant composition of RBDPO fatty acids and biodiesel, namely oleic acid and palmitic acid. Based on the analysis using Energy Dispersive X ray Spectroscopy, X ray diffraction, and Fouri er Transform Infra Red, it was confirmed that a calcium component was the target in Indigofera leaf ash. Based on the analysis using Brunner Emmet Teller (BET) Barrett Joyner Halenda (BJH), the surface area was 9.318 m 2 /g, the pore volume was 0.047 cc/g, and the pore size was 87.240 Å in the indigofera leaf ash catalyst. Therefore, the indigofera leaf ash catalyst can be utilized in s ustainable biodiesel production