Esterifikasi Palm Fatty Acid Distillate Menggunakan Katalis Karbon Kulit Buah Kakao (Theobroma Cacao) Tersulfonasi

Abstract

Catalyst is a substance that plays an important role in biodiesel production because the reaction for biodiesel formation is slow. This catalyst can be synthesized by utilizing organic waste such as cocoa pods. This study aimed to study the physicochemical properties and catalytic activity of sulfonated cocoa pod carbon catalyst for biodiesel production from PFAD. This catalyst was synthesized through a calcination process at temperatures of 250 ⁰C, 300 ⁰C, 350 ⁰C, 400 ⁰C, 450 ⁰C for 1 hour and sulfonation with H₂SO₄ p.a then characterized using FTIR, XRD, and acid site test. The catalyst is then applied in the manufacture of biodiesel through an esterification reaction between PFAD and methanol with a mole ratio of 1:15. The biodiesel produced was tested for its physicochemical properties in the form of density test, flow rate, acid number, and percent conversion. The results showed that the highest number of carbon catalyst sites for cocoa pod shells was KKBK-450. Based on the FTIR analysis, there are absorption bands at wave numbers of 1036 cm^-1 and 1181 cm^-1 indicating the presence of an O=S=O group which proves that the sulfonate group was successfully substituted onto the carbon surface of the cocoa pod. Characterization using XRD showed the results in the form of a carbon catalyst of cocoa pods having an amorphous structure. Based on the test results of the physicochemical properties of the catalyst from the biodiesel produced, KKBK-450 showed the optimum catalytic activity with the percent conversion of FFA to FAME of 52.28%.