Kajian Pengaruh Laju Alir Gas So3 dan Suhu Reaksi Sulfonasi pada Karakteristik Surfaktan Methyl Ester Sulfonates Acid dari Jarak Pagar (Jatropha curcas L.) dengan Menggunakan Single Tube Falling Film Reactor

Abstract

Surfactant is surface active agent that has ability to reduce surface and interfacial tension. Based on its ability, surfactant is used almost in all sectors of industries. It can be synthesized from petroleum, microorganism, and vegetable oil. Based on the hydrophilic part, it is divided into four groups: cationic, anionic, non-ionic, and amphoteric. Anionic surfactant is the most produced compared to other groups. Methyl Ester Sulfonates (MES) is the anionic surfactant made from vegetable oil that is now being developed. MES has the similar, or even better, than Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonates that is now the most produced anionic surfactant synthesized from petroleum. Jatropha curcas is potential to be developed as MES feedstock because it has high productivity and oil contain. Sulfonation process is the main process in MES production. There are some reactants can be used in sulfonation process but SO3 in the form of gas is the most common reactant used in industry. The sulfonation process of this research uses the Single Tube Falling Film Reactor. This research has purposes to find the effect of reactant flow rate and temperature to the characteristics of Methyl Ester Sulfonates Acid produced and also to find the best process condition. This research used factorial completely randomized design with two replications. The treatments used are reactant flow rate with levels 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, and 1.1 kg SO3/hr and temperature with levels 80, 100, and 120°C. Performance test shows that the reactant flow rate and temperature have significant effect in the surface tension value, inter-facial tension value, iodine number, acid number, pH, and active matter of MESA produced. MESA produced in this research could reduce the water surface tension from 41.88% up to 50.22%, has inter-facial tension value from 2.57 dyne/cm to 46.88 dyne/cm, iodine value from 50.96 mg I2/g MESA, acid value from 3.43 up to 10.79 mg NaOH/g MESA, pH from 1.42 to 1.73, and active matter from 0.08 to 13.66 percent. Based on this research, it is found that the MESA produced by 1.1 kg SO3 reactant flow rate/hr and 100°C temperature condition shows the best characteristic, especially in the inter-facial tension value.