Metil Ester Gondorukem sebagai Kandidat Bahan Bakar Nabati

Abstract

The objective of this research is to produce ester of rosin distillate using methanol and H2SO4 (pa) as a catalyst. The result showed an optimum yield of methyl ester was 88.5% at an operating condition of 1.2 mL catalyst in 1.5 hours. The infrared spectra showed that carboxyl groups was replaced by C=O ester group, proofing that the rosin distillate was esterified. Furthermore, the gas chromatography-mass spectrometer spectra showed that the resin acids consists of ester derivates of abietic acid, sandaracopimaric acid, dehidroabietic acid, isopimaric acid, palustric acid. Based on SNI 04 -7182-2006, the kinematic viscosity at 40ºC (4.2 mm2/s), cloud point (-18ºC), total sulfur (67 ppm), acid number (0.1 mg-KOH/g), iodine number (12.8%), and total alkyl ester (99.8%), the methyl ester of pine rosin would be feasible to be used as a biodiesel material. The flash point was considered too low for biodiesel, but would be suitable f or biogasoline.