PENGARUH RASIO REAKTAN DAN WAKTU SULFONASI TERHADAP KARAKTERISTIK METIL ESTER SULFONAT BERBASIS MINYAK KELAPA SAWIT

CPO production of Indonesia increased every year but the selling price of CPO is low. Processing CPO become downstream products is required in order to increase the value of the CPO. One of the efforts to increase the selling value of the CPO is by converting CPO into surfactant Methyl Ester Sulfonate (MES). Conversion of CPO into MES begins with the process of esterification and transesterification to produce methyl ester. Methyl ester is sulfonated using sulfonating agent NaHSO3, neutralized using NaOH 60% and dried to remove water. The ratio of reactants and reaction time in the process of sulfonation varied to determine on the quality of produced MES. Variety used is 1:0,5 for 1,5 hour (MES 1), 1:0,5 for 3 hour (MES 2), 1:0,6 for 1,5 hour (MES 3), 1:0,6 for 3 hour (MES 4), 1:0,7 for 1,5 hour (MES 5) and 1:0,7 for 3 hour (MES 6). MES produced was tested in acid number and ability to lower the surface tension of water. MES product test result on the value of the acid number demonstrated by MES 1 (1:0,5) for 1,5 jam. MES 1 has a value of the acid number is 0,70 mg KOH/gram sample. Ability of lowering the surface tension demonstrated by MES 3 (1:0,6) for 1,5 hour . MES 3 capable of lowering the surface tension of`water until 24,10 dyne/cm which used 1% concentration of surfactant