Felycia Edi Soetaredjo, Aning Ayucitra, Suryadi Ismadji, Anastasia Lidya Maukar
A potential application of KOH/bentonite as a catalyst for biodiesel production was studied. A series of KOH/bentonite catalysts was prepared by impregnation of bentonite from Pacitan with potassium hydroxide. The ratios between KOH and bentonite were 1:20, 1:10, 1:5, 1:4, 1:3, and 1:2. The characterization of KOH/bentonite and natural bentonite was conducted by nitrogen adsorption and XRD analysis. The effects of various reaction variables on the yield of biodiesel were investigated. The highest yield of biodiesel over KOH/bentonite catalyst was 90.70 ± 2.47%. It was obtained at KOH/bentonite 1:4, reaction time of 3. h, 3% catalyst, methanol to oil ratio of 6, and the reaction temperature at 60 °C. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.
Department of Chemical Engineering, Widya Mandala Surabaya Catholic University, Surabaya 60114, Kalijudan 37, Indonesia