Kajian teknologi produksi poligliserol dari hasil samping industri biodiesel

Abstract

The transesterification process in biodiesel production, produces main product (90% methyl ester) and by product (10% glycerol). The glycerol from the biodiesel process consists of 40-90% glycerol, 8-50% water content, and methanol less than 5-10%. The pure glycerol had been produced by the glycerol purification process when the crude glycerol had been separated from impurities (Idaho, 2006). Glycerol purification process by using H3P04 was carried out to neutralize and separate the fatty acid. The colour and minerals are absorbed by the active carbon. The polymerization of glycerol is one of the alternative process in order to reuse the by product of biodiesel industry. Polyglycerol could be used as emulsifier, emollient, disperant, spreading agent, and solubilizer. The polyglycerol and derivative could be used in many industry such us polymer additive, lubricant, drilling fluid, hydraulic fluid, cutting oil, etc. The objectives of this research is to find out the right process of polyglycerol production froin by-prod~~ocft biodiesel industry (glycerol). The treatments of the process were temperature (200,225, and 245 OC), heating time (6, 8, and 10 hours), and type of catalyst (KOH and NaOH) which has concentration 0,5 and 1 %. The result of this research showed that the higher temperature and the longer heating time can increase the viscosity and density of the product as well as the darken of the colour. Hydroxyl value was used to determine degree of polymerization. The degree of polymerization has value r 5. According to analysis of density, viscosity, boiling point, hydroxyl value and functional group, the best process of polymerization is reached at temperature 200 and 225oC.