Utilization of Methyl Ester Sulfonic Acid (MESA) from olein based methyl ester in heavy duty cleaner making

Abstract

The industry related to materials that are very difficult to remove in the cleaning process, such as crude oil, grease, oil, or other materials need heavy duty cleaning products that can handle the difficulty in cleaning. Cleaning products that have a tough task to clean the dirt is sometimes called a heavy duty cleaner. This product is effective for cleaning storage tank, reception tank, pipes, floors, equipment or machinery. Just like any other cleaning products, in the formulation of heavy duty cleaner needed surfactant. The purposes of this research were to obtain heavy duty cleaner utilizing methyl ester sulfonic acid (MESA) from olein based methyl ester, to know the performance generated from heavy duty cleaner, and financial feasibility information of heavy duty cleaner industry. This research started with preparation of C16 dominant methyl ester, olein based methyl ester, MESA production by sulphonating methyl ester with SO3 as reactant in a single tube falling-film reactor, then followed by MESA characterization. Furthermore, continued with heavy duty cleaner making and characterisazion. Design of the research was using factorial completely rendomized with two factors including type of MESA and NaOH concentration. The type of MESA consist of four levels (MESA olein off grade, MESA olein steady state, MESA olein C16 dominant off grade and MESA olein C16 dominant steady state). NaOH concentration consist of four levels ( 35%, 40%, 45% and 50%). Washing capasity value was chosen as key parameter because it was representing the performance of heavy duty cleaner in removing impurity. Based on variance analysis, MESA types gave significance influence to the value of product washing capasity, whereas NaOH concentration was not giving significance influence. The highest washing capasity average value was generated from MESA olein dominant C16 steady state type. The results showed that heavy duty cleaner which used MESA olein dominan C16 steady state type with 35% NaOH concentration was resulting 98,11% emultion stability, 9 ml/ ml 0,1% sample solution foaming capacity, 13,75% foam stability, and 91,31% washing capasity was the best composition obtain. Based on four investment criteria, those were NPV (Rp 19.210.855.000), IRR (19%), B/C Ratio (1,52) and PBP (5,36 years) show that it is feasible to run.