Physico-chemical Properties Tests of Palm Oil Based Foaming Agent Using Water Solvent Media from Peatland

Abstract

The water supply requirement to extinguish the fire on the occurrence of land fires is enormous. The water used is usually water available in the field, without certain parameter requirements. For frequent peatland fires, the available peat water in the field becomes an option for use in dissolving the tested foaming agent. Indonesia has a peat land area that has a very large water storage capacity of peat soils. Peat water is the surface water of peat soil with characteristic of brownish red color, contains high organic matter, high iron content, acid taste, pH 3-5 and low level of hardness. This study aimed to determine the effect of peat water use as a solvent on the physico-chemical properties of foaming agent concentrate made from palm oil. Tests were performed using two types of foaming agent concentrate products (CFA-1 and CFA-2) with foaming agent concentrates used were 1, 2 and 3%, and well water was used as a comparison (control). The analysis results showed that the use of peat water as a solvent for palm foaming agent concentrate can be done because it still produces high foam stability, high foaming ability, low interfacial tension, and high decrease of contact angle, as well as the use of well water. The analysis results of CFA-1 using peat water were not quite different from those of CFA-2.