SYNTHESIS OF BIODIESEL FROM KAPUK SEED OIL (Ceiba Pentandra L) AT VARIATION STIRRING DURATION IN TRANSESTERIFICATION PROCESS

Abstract

The synthesis of biodiesel targeted as SNI 04-7182-2006 standard has been done from kapuk randu seed, following two steps i.e. sokhlet extraction process of kapuk seed oil from kapuk seed using n-heksane as a solvent, and the production of biodiesel from kapuk seed oil by transesterification process using methanol and KOH as catalyst. Transesterificatin process was performed at temperature 50 ^oC with the variation of stirring duration as followed  50, 75, 100 and 125 minutes. The kapuk randu extraction resulted  % kapuk randu seed oil, while the transestherification process resulted around 55 - 65%. The biodiesel product characteristics provided the density value of all biodiesel at stirring durations variation are suitable with SNI standard (850 – 890 kg/m³), the viscosity value of all biodiesel are  higher than the range SNI value (2,3 – 6,0 cSt). While the flash point values are lesser than SNI standard (10160 - 11000 cal/g).

Keywords: kapuk randu seed, transestherification, biodiesel