OPTIMIZATION OF TRANSESTERIFICATION OF TRA FAT WITH KOH/y Al2O3 CATALYST USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY

Abstract

In this study, biodiesel was produced from fat of tra catfish by methanolysis reaction with KOH/y-A12O3 heterogenous catalyst. This research was carried out using response surface methodology (RSM) based on four-variable central composite design (CCD) with a = 1,54671. The transesterification process variables and their investigated ranges were methanol/fat molar ratio (X1: 7/1 - 9/1), catalyst concentration (X2: 5%-7%), reaction time (X3: 60 min - 120 min), and reaction temperature (X4: 55 °C - 65 °C). The result show the biodiesel yield could be reach up to 92,8 % using the following optimized reaction condition: molar ratio of methanol/fat at 8,26/1, catalyst concentration of 5,79 %, reaction time of 96 min, and reaction temperature at 59,6 °C.