Synthesis of potassium methyl ester as foaming agent

Abstract

Forest and land fires in Indonesia have been historically causing extensive damages and losses on economies, ecosystems, and environment, and affects all life in the region. Forest fire management in Indonesia still relies on water that is less effective than foaming agents i.e., extinguishers. Chemicals used in conventional extinguishers are expensive. Foaming agents based on palm oil can be used as an alternative for the extinguishers. The foaming agent synthesized in this study was potassium methyl ester, made from palm oil methyl ester (ME), with saponification by adding potassium hydroxide (KOH). The forming performance tests (foam stability and forming ability) and form related physicochemical analyses (surface economies, interface surface tension, density, and contact angle) of potassium methyl ester were conducted with ME:KOH molar ratio of 1:1; 1:1.25; and 1:1.5 and the saponification duration of 1.5, 2 and 2.5 hours. The molar ratio had significant effects on foam stability, interface surface tension, density, and contact angle. The duration of the saponification had a significant effect on density. There was no significant effect of the interaction between the molar ratio and saponification duration. The best foaming agent selected by the ranking method (composite performance index) of foam stability, foaming ability, and surface tension were one with ME:KOH molar ratio of 1:1 and 1.5 hours saponification.