DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v24i2.177

Keywords: -

Abstract

Biodiesel consists of the mono-alkyl esters of vegetable oils or animal fats produced by transesterification using a mono-hydric alcohol and a catalyst. In this study, the impregnation approach was used to make a series of bentonite:NaOH catalysts with molar ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4. The synthesized catalysts were characterized using FTIR and XRD analysis. Pre-treatment of the waste cooking oil (WCO) sample was conducted before transesterification. The characteristics of WCO such as free fatty acids (FFAs), saponification, and moisture content were determined. The WCO sample had an FFA value of 0.49 %, a saponification value of 206.70 mg KOH/g, and a moisture content of 0.22 %. Based on the FTIR analysis, the impregnation of NaOH into bentonite was successful, with a band at 3430 cm-1 indicating the presence of the Al-O-Na group. XRD analysis also showed changes in peak intensity, indicating the presence of Na2O crystals. The bentonite:NaOH catalyst with a molar ratio of 1:3 had the best FFA yield (40.7%) at a reaction temperature of 60 °C and reaction time of 195 minutes.