Free Fatty Acids Esterification on Palm Oil Sludge using Zirconia-supported Indonesia Natural Zeolite as Heterogeneous Catalyst

Abstract

Biodiesel production has been attracted more intense study because of the growing interest in finding the alternative renewable energy resources. Commonly biodiesel production is produced using refined vegetable oils as feedstocks which catalyzed by a homogeneous catalyst. However, the homogeneous catalyst has many disadvantages such as complex products separation and environmentally problem. In this research, the esterification of Palm Oil Sludge (POS) using zirconia supported Indonesia natural zeolite as a heterogeneous catalyst was studied. The POS is low feedstock price and available abundantly. The catalysts were analyzed in term of porosity analysis (Gas Sorption Analysis method), XRD (X-Ray Diffraction), and FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy). The FFAs conversion as high as was 84.2% achieved at following reaction conditions: 2 h reaction time, 65°C reaction temperature, 1:10 POS to methanol mole ratio, and catalyst amount 10 wt. % of POS. The FFA conversion was decreased after three consecutive of esterification reaction.