Ekstraksi Kalium dari Abu Tandan Kosong Sawit sebagai Katalis pada Reaksi Transesterifikasi Minyak Sawit

Process of the transesterification reaction of palm oil with methanol by using ash of palm empty fruitbunches (EFB) as base catalyst has been conducted. The studied variables were effect of weight ash of EFB(5, 10, 15, 20, 25 g) and the molar ratio (3:1; 6:1; 9:1; and 12:1) of methanol to palm oil. Sample of ash wasprepared through heating, screening, and reashing. A certain amount of ash was extracted in methanolwith mixing for about 1 h at room temperature and the product was used as catlayst for transesterificationprocess. The composition of the methyl esters (biodiesel) was analyzed using GC-MS and 1H NMR, whereascharacters of biodiesel were analyzed using ASTM methods. The results of AAS analysis showed that potassiumcarbonate content in ash of EFB was 25.92% w/w. The main components of biodiesel were mixture ofmethyl palmitate and methyl oleat as the major compounds. The increasing of EFB ash weight (catalystconcentration) in reaction of transesterification enhanced the biodiesel conversion of 53.0; 76.9; 88.2; 90.5and 97.8% (w/w) respectively. The increasing of the molar ratio of methanol to palm oil, the biodiesel conversionenhanced too, that were 74.0; 90.5; 92.3 and 98.8% (w/w) respectively. The properties of biodieselwere relatively conformed with specification of biodiesel (ASTM D 6751). © 2008 BCREC UNDIP. All rights reserved.(Received: 25th September 2008, Accepted: 5th October 2008)[How to Cite: M. Imaduddin, Y. Yoeswono, I. Tahir. (2008). Ekstraksi Kalium dari Abu Tandan Kosong Sawit Sebagai Katalis Pada Reaksi Transesterifikasi Minyak Sawit. Bulletin of Chemical Reaction Engineering and Catalysis, 3 (1-3): 14-20. doi:10.9767/bcrec.3.1-3.18.14-20