Biodiesel Production from Rubber Seed Oil Using Natural Zeolite Supported Metal Oxide Catalysts

The conversion of biodiesel from rubber seed oil has been carried out using heterogeneous catalyst based on natural zeolite. The methods used include activated and calcined to produce active natural zeolite (ZAA). ZAA are embodied metal oxides of PbO, ZnO, and ZrO2 through wet impregnation to produce bifunctional catalyst. The catalysts activity test was carried out in biodiesel synthesis at temperature 60ºC for 60 minutes with 5%(w/w) catalysts. Crystallinity of catalysts increased after the activation process and ZrO2 loaded but decreased after PbO and ZnO loaded. The catalyst components after modification decreased Al levels due to dealumination process as well as reduced impurities. Spesific surface area of catalysts decreased after impregnation while total pore volume increased. Metal oxides loaded has an effect in increasing biodiesel conversion and reducing FFA content. The best performance was shown by ZrO2/ZAA catalysts with yield conversion of 58.10% and FFA conversion to methyl ester reaches 86.22%. The characteristics of water content, FFA content, and density of 0.092%, 1.081%, and 0.880 g/cm3, respectively. These data showed that biodiesel from rubber seed oil which was catalyzed by a bifunctional catalyst has the potential to be developed as an alternative source of future renewable and environmentally friendly fuels.