Pengembangan Proses Produksi Biodiesel Biji Karet Metode Non-Katalis Superheated Methanol Pada Tekanan Atmosfir

The process of biodiesel production from rubber seed (hevea Brasiliensis) is conducted in Indonesia in general using catalyst (acid or alkaline) and wet washing method or dry washing method. Catalyst method brings many weaknesses include: a long production time, high production costs due to wear or magnesol as a catalyst absorban, especially if the purification uses water (wet wash system) because it will be harmful to engine components such as: seal leaks quickly, easily arise fungus, rust/corrosion on the cylinder heads, pumps and fuel filters are often clogged, etc. Biodiesel production process with non-catalytic method can overcome the weaknesses mentioned above. In this study, rubber seed oil is obtained by the method of pressing.The oil specifications are as follow: viscosity 5.19 cSt, density 0.9209 g/ml, water content 0.2%, free fatty acid (FFA) 6.66%, and the boiling point 305 oC.The methodology used is processing rubber seed into biodiesel with superheated methanol non-catalyst method. Transesterification performed in a Bubble Column Reactor (BCR) at the reaction temperature 270oC, 275oC, 280oC, 285oC, and 290 oC and held at atmospheric pressure. The molar ratio of methanol and rubber seed oil were: 140, 150, and 160. The results showed that the process of making biodiesel from vegetable oil catalyst method is usually carried out through the various stages of the process e.g: degumming process to remove mucus or sap it contains, esterification to reduce the FFA content to below 2,5% to prevent saponification, and tranesterification to obtain methyl esters or biodiesel and then washing. But in its development by using non-catalytic method turns out that the rubber seed oil has a high FFA content (above 2.5%) can be directly processed tranesterification without any saponification formed and can produce biodiesel without having to experience the process of degumming, esterification and washing. The density, cetane number, pour point, flash point, and the acid number of non-catalyst method is better than the catalyst method.The disadvantage is that micro carbon residue contained by biodiesel of rubber seed oils (B-100) are still high enough above the allowable standard. The optimum methyl ester content was obtained at molar ratio of 160 and the reaction temperature 290 oC because it produces the largest biodiesel and the smallest glycerol