#TITLE_ALTERNATIVE#

• Main Author: LEMBONO (NIM 13003095), PILANDARI
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/11138
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Medium Chain Triglyceride (MCT) is fat replacer which is medium chain fatty acid esters (C6-C12) of glycerin. MCT has a lot of benefit for human’s health and also useful for food industrial. Unfortunately, MCT is not provide naturally in natural fat, therefore preparation of MCT is needed. MCT can be prepared from transesterification of caprilic and capric methyl ester with glycerin or esterification of fatty acid with glycerin. In transesterification, methyl esters residue has not been separated and the tendency of soap forming makes the product tastes no good. Therefore MCT preparation through esterification need to be researched. Hartman et al (1989) prepared MCT through esterification with and without catalyst. Hartman also refined the product by vacuum distilation.<p> <br /> <br /> <br /> This research includes the use of Hartman's methods for preparing MCT with and without presence of catalyst. The uncatalysed reactions is held at temperature of 170 degrees C, either in vacuum condition (40 kPa) or in flow of inert gas (N2), with fatty acid and glyceride ratio of 3,6 : 1 within 8 hours. The catalysed reactions, which use Zn or H2SO4, is held at temperature of 150 degrees C under vacuum condition (40 kPa), with fatty acid and glyceride ratio of 3,6 : 1 and reaction time variation from 2-8 hours. Respons which are studied for all the variations is glyceride conversion and MCT's yield.<p> <br /> <br /> <br /> Highest glyceride conversion (100%) and MCT's yield (97,8%) are achieved by esterification without catalyst under vacuum condition at temperature of 170oC, fatty acid and glyceride ratio of 3,6 : 1 and reaction time of 8 hours. At Zn catalysed reactions, the highest glyceride conversion (99,26%) is achieved at 4 hours reaction time and the highest MCT’s yield (97,70%) is achieved at 8 hours reaction time. At H2SO4 catalysed reactions, the highest glyceride conversion (99,74%) is achieved at 6 hours reaction time and the highest MCT’s yield (97,86%) is achieved at 2 hours reaction time.