Modification of bayah banten natural zeolite as heterogeneous catalyst in biodiesel production

The purpose of this study was to produce a biodiesel through the reaction of waste cooking oil with methanol by using a modified Bayah Banten zeolite as catalyst. This catalyst was produced from its natural from by using potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a reactant in 100 ml of distilled water. The reaction to produce a biodiesel was performed at various temperature and time to get the optimum condition. The advantages of this catalyst were eco-friendly, easily separated after the reaction process, and can be reused as a catalyst. The molar ratio of waste cooking oil and methanol for transesterification process was 1:7. The yield of biodiesel at various optimum temperatures and times is 94% (50 gram of KOH/100ml), 87,8% (75 gram of KOH/100ml), and 86% (100 gram of KOH/100 ml). Biodiesel results were analyzed by GC Ester content and modified catalysts were characterized using XRD, FTIR, and SEM-EDX.