Production of Magnesium Stearate from PFAD (Palm Fatty Acid Distillate) Conducted in a Semi-Batch Reactor

• Main Author: Kurniawan - Nim:13014050, Katherine
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/28404
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

<p align="justify">Palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) is a by-product of crude palm oil (CPO) refining process which still contains 82-99% of free fatty acids (FFA). The FFA in PFAD can be reutilized as a raw material of magnesium salt production, especially magnesium stearate (Mg-sterate) which generally used in food industry as additive. Magnesium salt of PFAD (Mg-PFAD) had been produced in laboratory scale and scale up was needed for commercialization purpose. However, the operating conditions used were not necessarily the same as those of laboratory scale. Hence, the purpose of this study were to determine the effect of operating conditions to conversion, to determine whether the products (Mg-PFAD) meets the specification and to test the products application for tablet production. <br /> <br /> <br /> The production Mg-PFAD was conducted in a 15 L semi-batch reactor using modified fusion method. The FFA in PFAD was reacted with MgO with addition of water as a catalyst. The operating conditions varied include PFAD quantity, molar ratio of PFAD:MgO, and feeding temperature. The variations used were 0,5; 1,0; 1,5 kg (PFAD quantity), 1:1,1; 1:1,25; 1:1,5 (molar ratio of PFAD:MgO) at feeding temperature of 60 and 80oC. Water was added about 0,5-3 mole per mole MgO. The produced magnesium salts were tested for acid value, gas chromatography, moisture content (MC), and Mg content. Two best products will be applied for producing tablet. <br /> <br /> <br /> Based on the experiment, feeding temperature and PFAD quantity did not affect the reaction conversion significantly. Whereas molar ratios of PFAD and MgO provided higher conversion in respect of higher ratios. The produced Mg-PFAD’s average free fatty acids content were (2,9±0,01)% and the average moisture content were (3,8±0,5)%. These value had met the specification for commercial magnesium stearate. However, the fatty acid composition and magnesium content had not conform the standard. Based on the conversion value and powder fineness, the two best products selected had succeeded being applied for tablet production. The produced tablets provided friability, abrasion and hardness value that almost equal to commercial magnesium stearate tablets.<p align="justify"> <br />