Abstract

I. F. Nurcahyo^1,2, Karna Wijaya¹, Triyono¹, Arief Budiman³ and Yun Hin Taufiq-Yap^4,5

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/ojc/340218

The natural Ca(OH)₂/KF superbase catalyst was synthesized by grinding and calcinations with a rapid thermal annealing method. It was applied to transesterification of palm oil into biodiesel. The effect of molar ratio Ca(OH)₂ to KF and calcinations temperature on the catalyst character and the catalytic activity was investigated. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, FTIR, CO₂-TPD, surface area, and TGA. The results indicated that natural Ca(OH)₂ reacted to KF in forming monoclinic and orthorhombic KCAF₃. The monoclinic KCF₃ was produced by reaction between Ca(OH)₂ and KF, where as the orthorhombic KCaF₃ was produced by reaction between CaCO₃ impurities and KF. The best catalyst was natural Ca(OH)₂/KF with molar ratio of Ca(OH)2 to KF 0.8:1 and calcinations at 500^oC. The catalyst was able to convert 97.6 % oil into biodiesel within 1 minute at 5 % catalyst, molar ratio oil/methanol of 1/12, reaction temperature of 65^oC.

Natural Ca(OH)2/KF; Superbase; Biodiesel; Palm oil

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