Biodiesel production from castor oil using heterogeneous catalyst KOH/zeolite of natural zeolite Bandung Indonesia

Biodiesel production from Castor (Ricinus communis) oil was carried out through transesterification using heterogeneous KOH/zeolite catalyst. The aim of this study was to determine the optimum condition of the reaction. The synthesis of the catalyst was initiated through chemical activation of zeolite, followed by the synthesis of KOH/zeolite through ultrasound-assisted method and calcination at 450 °C. Transesterification of castor oil was performed at a temperature of 55, 60 and 65°C; 5, 6, 7 h contact times; and 50, 60, 70% of catalyst concentration. The result of XRD analysis on natural zeolite indicated the zeolite belong the group mordenite. The addition of KOH to the activated zeolite gave rise to new peaks at 2θ: 31, 36, and 38. In addition, the data from XRF analysis indicated there is an increase of potassium (K) amount in KOH/zeolite compared to the activated one. Based on the GC-MS data of biodiesel produced through transesterification, the optimum yield of methyl ricinoleate was achieved at 55 °C, 7 h contact time and 70 % catalyst concentration. A number of physical properties such as water content and density are reported to have not yet met the SNI standard