Biodiesel Production from Palm Oil over Potassium Based Montmorillonite-K10 (MK10) Clay Catalyst

The heterogeneous catalyst Montmorillonite MK10 clay (MK10) and potassium modified MK10 were prepared for biodiesel production through transesterification process. The catalyst MK10 was modified with different salt of potassium such as Potassium Hydroxide (KOH), Potassium Nitrate (KNO3), and Potassium Carbonate (K2CO3). These prepared catalyst then tested for activity of biodiesel production through transesterification reaction. The process variable used is the same for each catalyst as to check which gives higher yield at the same operating condition. Operating parameters used for this experiment are: catalyst 2wt%., Temperature at 60℃ , methanol to oil molar ratio 10:1, and reaction time of 2 hours using the same alcohol and feed stock which are methanol and palm oil. The optimum yield of fatty acid methyl ester were found to be potassium hydroxide (KOH). Based on the results obtained, the catalyst potassium hydroxide based Montmorillonite K10 clay catalyst (KOH/MK10) will be producing higher yield compare to potassium carbonate (KCO3/MK10), and potassium nitrate (KNO3/MK10) catalyst with at temperature of 60℃, 10:1 of methanol to oil ratio, 2 hours reaction time and 2 weight % of catalyst used. In addition, 5.0% of KOH metal loading on the MK-10 clay gives better performance while the temperature tested on catalyst, 60℃ is the best operating temperature giving out better performance for modified KOH/MK10 catalyst compare to other temperature which is 30℃, 50℃ and 70℃ tested. In term of stability of the catalyst, modified KOH/MK10 clay catalyst can only be used a few times and replaced with new catalyst as the performance of the catalyst dropped with respect of the cycles