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

Abstract

In this study, biodiesel was produced from fat of tra catfish by methanolysis reaction with KOH/γ-Al₂O₃ heterogenous catalyst. This research was carried out using response surface methodology (RSM) based on four-variable central composite design (CCD) with α = 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 ^oC – 65 ^oC). 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 ^oC.