Free Fatty Acid Removal on Palm Oil Sludge using Heterogeneous Solid Catalyst derived from Palm Empty Fruit Bunch

Abstract

The present research investigated the activity of catalysts from biomass waste derived from Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (PEFB). An important factor for assessing the feasibility of biodiesel production is related to its economic evaluation. The sludge of Palm Oil (SPO) is generated from palm oil processing industry. SPO was potentially as biodiesel feedstocks due to its low price. The investigation of free fatty acid esterification reactions on SPO with methanol was conducted in this research. Recently, a new strategy of preparing a heterogeneous solid catalyst from biomass wastes has been developed. The parametric investigation was carried out by varying the molar ratio of methanol to SPO catalyst to oil (8:1 - 14:1), the amounts of catalyst (0.5 - 5 wt. % SPO), and the reaction temperatures (40 - 60 °C). It is concluded that the optimum conditions of esterification reactions were acquired at molar ratio of methanol to SPO catalyst to oil 12:1, the amounts of catalyst 5 wt. % of SPO, and the reaction temperature of 60 °C.