REKAYASA PROSES PRODUKSI BIODIESEL BERBASIS JARAK (JATROPHA CURCAS)  MELALUI TRANSESTERIFIKASI IN SITU
(Biodiesel Production by in Situ Transesterification of Jatropha Seed)

I. Amalia Kartika1), Sri Yuliani2), Danu Ariono3) , Sugiarto1)
1)Dep. Teknologi Industri Pertanian, Fakultas Teknologi Pertanian IPB,
2)Balai Besar Litbang Pascapanen Pertanian, Deptan
3)Dep. Teknik Kimia, FTI ITB

ABSTRAK

Kegiatan penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mempelajari proses produksi biodiesel secara langsung dari biji jarak melalui proses transesterifikasi in situ. Pada tahun pertama penelitian bertujuan untuk mempelajari proses transesterifikasi in situ biji jarak pada berbagai kondisi proses. Parameter kondisi proses yang dipelajari adalah pengaruh kadar air (0.5, 2, 3 dan 4%) dan ukuran partikel bahan (10, 20 dan 35 mesh) terhadap rendemen biodiesel dan kualitasnya.   Kadar air dan ukuran partikel bahan berpengaruh nyata terhadap rendemen biodiesel. Semakin kecil kadar air dan ukuran partikel bahan, rendemen biodiesel dan efektifitas proses transesterifikasi in situ biji jarak semakin meningkat.  Rendemen biodiesel tertinggi (71%) dihasilkan dari perlakuan kadar air dan ukuran partikel bahan 0.5% dan 35 mesh.   Biodiesel yang dihasilkan dari proses transesterifikasi in situ biji jarak mempunyai bilangan asam dan viskositas yang relatif rendah, yaitu 0.27 mg KOH/g dan 210 mg KOH/g. Ukuran partikel bahan tidak berpengaruh nyata terhadap bilangan penyabunan dan ester biodiesel, sedangkan kadar air bahan menunjukkan pengaruh yang nyata.

Keywords :   In situ, transesterification, jatropha seed, biodiesel

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to investigate in situ transesterification process allowing to realize directly biodiesel production from jatropha seeds. The influence of moisture content (0.5, 2, 3 and 4%) and particle size (10, 20 and 35 mesh) of jatropha seeds was examined to define the best performance of the biodiesel production yield and its quality. 
Generally, the moisture content and particle size of jatropha seeds affected biodiesel production yield. An increase of biodiesel production yield was observed as moisture content and particle size of jatropha seeds were decreased. Highest biodiesel production yield (71%) was obtained under seed moisture content of 0.5% and particle size of 35 mesh.
Effect of the moisture content and particle size of jatropha seeds on biodiesel quality was less important. In all experiments tested, the biodiesel quality was very good. The acid value was below 0.3 mg KOH/g, viscosity was low ( 210 mg KOH/g). In addition, quality of biodiesel produced under optimum process condition was in accord with Indonesian Biodiesel Standard.

Keyword: In situ, transesterification, jatropha seed, biodiesel

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