SILICA EXTRACTED FROM RICE HUSK ASH AS SOLID BASE CATALYST IN THE TRANSESTERIFICATION PROCESS FOR BIODIESEL PRODUCTION
Nurdi Setyawan, Imia Ribka Banurea, Sri Yuliani, and Heni Herawati

Indonesian Center for Agricultural Postharvest Research and Development
Jl. Tentara Pelajar No.12, Kampus Penelitian Pertanian Cimanggu, Bogor, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Rice husk is a by-product of rice milling has not been optimally utilized yet in Indonesia. The waste reaches 20 percent of total unhulled rice. Rice husk consists of silica able to substitute natural silica for many purposes. The study was conducted to determine the effect of impregnation and calcination temperature on silica from rice husk ash as a solid base catalyst in the transesterification process for biodiesel production. Silica treated with impregnation of KOH 1N and calcination temperature of 200, 300, 400, and 500C. Silica was investigated and characterized by using SEM, XRD, and BET. The calcination of silica in temperature 400C resulted in the highest yield of 88.51 percent. Increasing the calcination temperature can improve the amorphous of the obtained silica.

Keywords: Silica, rice husk ash, catalyst, transesterification, biodiesel

Topic: WASTE AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT