PENGGUNAAN GELOMBANG MIKRO PADA TRANSESTERIFIKASI MINYAK JARAK (Ricinus communis) TERKATALISIS ZrO2/K2O;TRANSESTERIFICATION OF CASTOR OIL (Ricinus communis) CATALYZED BY ZrO2/K2O USING MICROWAVE

Transesterification of castor oil (Ricinus communis) catalyzed by ZrO2/K2O using microwave has been investigated. This research is to study the ZrO2/K2O catalyst activity on castor oil transesterification process. The ZrO2/K2O catalyst were prepared by wet impregnation method. They was characterized using infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The transesterification reaction was carried out in a microwave system under mass variation, 10 minutes of reaction time, and 700 watt power. Biodiesel obtained from transesterification reaction was analyzed using FTIR, GC-MS, H-NMR, and ASTM for the physic chemical properties. Catalyst characterization result using FTIR, XRD, and SEM showed that ZrO2/K2O catalyst synthesis was successful. Transesterification of castor oil with catalyst 7% w/w had higher castor oil yield for about 78,2wt%. Catalyst 5% w/w had highest catalyst selectivity of methyl ricinoleate about 89,8%. Analysis result 1H-NMR showed that the conversion of castor oil into biodiesel have formed. Based on ASTM analyzed result, castor oil biodiesel had meet some parameter standard for biodiesel.