THE SYNTHESIS OF BIODIESEL FROM SUNFLOWER SEED WITH 1-BUTYL-3-METHYLIMIDAZOLIUM CHLORIDE ([BMIM]CL) IONIC LIQUID AS CATALYST USING MICROWAVE-ASSISTED ORGANIC SYNTHESIS (MAOS) METHOD

• Main Author: Agustin, Novita
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Kimia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/70334
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Biodiesel is one of the alternative fuels derived from vegetable oils or animal fats as a solution to overcome the energy crisis in the future. One way to produce biodiesel is through the transesterification reaction of sunflower seed oil (Helianthus annus). The main problem with this process is the presence of impurities that can reduce the quality of biodiesel. Therefore, an appropriate catalyst is needed to obtain higher quality biodiesel. Ionic liquids can be used as catalysts in biodiesel production with several advantages, including durability, good stability, easy separation, and environmental friendliness. In this study, biodiesel was synthesized from sunflower seed oil using the microwave-assisted organic synthesis (MAOS) method with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) as a catalyst. Ionic liquid [BMIM]Cl was synthesized by the MAOS method using 300 watts of irradiation power for 90 minutes at 60 oC to produce a product with a yield of 59.41%. Determination of Free Fatty Acid (FFA) of the sunflower oil showed FFA levels of 1.11% (w/v). Synthesis of biodiesel from sunflower seed oil was carried out in a [BMIM]Cl catalyst of 6% (v/v), 8% (v/v), and 10% (v/v) in methanol using the MAOS method with an irradiation power of 300 watts for 20 minutes at 60 oC. Identification and character test of biodiesel products include analysis of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS), density test, viscosity test, refractive index test, and acid number test. The optimum production of biodiesel from sunflower seeds with a yield of 94.39% was achieved when a 1:6 ratio of oil: methanol was used, the concentration of liquid ion [BMIM]Cl as a catalyst was 8% (v/v) in methanol, at 60 oC for 60 minutes. The methyl ester biodiesel product obtained has density of 880 kg/m3, viscosity of 5.78 cSt, refractive index of 1.45, and acid number of 0.49 mg-KOH/g. Based on the results of GC-MS’s data, the constituent components of methyl esters from sunflower seed oil are methyl palmitate, methyl linoleate, methyl oleate, and methyl stearate.