Kinetics Study of Free Fatty Acid Esterification from Sludge Palm Oil Using Zeolite Sulfonated Biochar from Molasses Composite Catalyst

Abstract

A kinetics study of free fatty acid (FFA) esterification from sludge palm oil (SPO) using zeolite sulfonated biochar from molasses composite catalyst has been conducted. The effect of reaction temperature (60, 70, 80°C) and the molar ratio of methanol to free fatty acids (17:1, 20:1, 23:1, 26:1, 29:1) on the kinetic parameters such as reaction rate, Arrhenius constant, activation energy, and enthalpy energy were investigated. The study showed that the reaction temperature and the initial free fatty acids concentration were positively correlated with the reaction rate as well as the reaction rate constant. The forward activation energy and Arrhenius constant for FAME formation were 30.6537 kJ/mol and 2.04 x 102, respectively, while the backward activation energy and Arrhenius constant were 15.8714 kJ/mol and 2.502, respectively. The positive enthalpy value was 14.7823 kJ/mol indicates the reaction endothermically occurred. The validation of the kinetic model gives an R2 value of 0.9612 indicates that the model was acceptable and provided a predicted value close to the actual value.