Abstract:
Response surface method was used for the evaluation of the effects of various factors
on the synthesis of biodiesel from rubber seed oil with sodium hydroxide as the
catalyst. The production of biodiesel was optimized and model response equation was
obtained, and able to predict the biodiesel production from the values of the three
main factors. It would seem that the catalyst concentration and oil/methanol ratio
predominatly determined the reaction convertion, while the reaction temperature had
no significant effect on the yield of biodiesel. The catalyst concentration and
oil/methanol ratio showed positive effects on the perolehan of biodiesel. However,
there were no significant interactions among the variables according to test of
statistic significance. The yield of biodiesel product predicted at the optimum
condition was 86%. Finally, biodiesel from rubber seed oil at the optimum condition
has density of 882 kg/m3, kinematic viscosity at 40oC was 7.70 mm2/s, flash point at
23oC, cetane number was 62,06 and acid value was 0,16 mg KOH/g.
