Optimization of Biodiesel Production from Rubber Seed Oil with Hydro-esterification Process using Response Surface Methodology

Authors

  • D Anwar* , T M Putri, D Silalahi, M Kinda

Abstract

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that is produced from oils other than petroleum oil.
Rubber seed oil is one of potential raw material for biodiesel production. The high free fatty
acid content in rubber seed oil makes conventional process with alkaline catalyst unsuitable.
One of the alternative process is hydro-esterification process which consists of hydrolysis
stages catalysed by immobilized lipase and esterification stages catalysed by sulphuric acid.
This research aims to optimize the yield of biodiesel by observing three variables: methanol
to rubber seed oil molar ratio, sulphuric acid concentration, and lipase concentration using
response surface methodology. The cetane number at optimum yield is calculated using
Bamgboye-Hansen equation that is based on methyl ester composition. The highest yield is
obtained at combination of methanol molar ratio 26,2; sulphuric acid 2,56% (v/v), and lipase
concentration 26,9% (m/m). Through the calculation of cetane number, it is found that cetane
number for biodiesel produced in optimum condition is 46

Published

2020-06-30

Issue

Section

Articles