Biodiesel Synthesis from Rubber Seed Oil Via Esterification using H-Zeolit and ZrO2/ZAK Catalysts

: Rubber seed oil is a non-edible oil that is very potential as a biodiesel feedstock. The synthesis of biodiesel from rubber seed oil was done by reaction of esterification free fatty acid (FFAs) and transesterification of Triglycerides (TGs) in a single step, which used heterogeneous catalysts. Zeolite is one type of catalyst that has been developed for this process. In this study the catalyst was prepared using Indonesian natural zeolite (ZAK). To increase catalytic activity, zeolite catalyst was loaded with zirconium (Zr) by wet impregnation method, followed by the process of calcination and oxidation at a temperature of 400 o C for 1 hours with gas flow of O 2 and N 2 . ZAK and ZrO 2 /ZAK catalysts were characterized by XRD and SEM-EDS. The catalyst produced has good crystallinity as seen from sharp peaks with high intensity and high levels of Si. The catalyst activity test was done in the process of converting rubber seed oil into biodiesel. The reaction process was carried out at a temperature of 100 o C with a variety of catalyst concentrations: oil1: 2, 1: 4, and 1: 6 and the reaction time varied by 30, 60, and 90 minutes. The most optimum process of biodiesel produced at the ratio of catalyst 1 : 2 with reaction time of 30 minutes showed the biodiesel yield of 67,95%. Biodiesel products were tested for water content, FFA, and density of each is 0,09%, 2,15%, dan 0,89 g/cm 3 . GC analysis shows that the main composition of biodiesel consists of diesel fraction (C 16 -C 20 ) with the most components being methyl linoleic 38,82% and methyl oleat 22,33%.