Transesterification of Kapok Seed Oil (Ceiba Pentandra) into Biodiesel Using Natural Zeolite Catalysts

Impact due to the depletion of fossil-based petroleum reserves and high level of air pollution due to exhaust emissions from the use of fossil fuels, it is necessary to further develop renewable energy sources. This research carried out the development of the transesterification process of kapok seed oil (Ceiba pentandra) into biodiesel using natural zeolite catalyst of Tasikmalaya. In this study, natural zeolite was modified by chemical activation and calcination at temperature 450 C using furnace. Spectrophotometric analysis of the natural zeolite showed the Si/Al ratio before modification was 0.2542 and after modification, it increased to 0.3339. X-Ray Diffraction showed the presence of Si phase at angle 27 with an intensity of 100% and Al phase at angle of 48 with an intensity of 12%. Brunauer Emmet Teller analysis showed the surface area of the natural zeolite catalyst was 699,820 m2/g. The transesterification process was carried out by reacting kapok seed oil with methanol at ratio of 1: 3, 1: 6 and 1: 9 and reacted at temperature of 50 C, 60 C, 70 C, and 80 C with percent catalyst 5% by weight of oil. The highest biodiesel yield was obtained at operating conditions 60 C with mole ratio of 1: 9 which was 67.90%. The FAME content contained in biodiesel was dominated by ME linoleic at 64.94%, ME oleic by 15.87% and ME palmitate by 14.84%.