Optimization of the Enzymatic Synthesis of Biodiesel from Terminalia cattapa L. Kernel Oil Using Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

The synthesis of biodiesel using Terminalia cattapa L. (local language: Ketapang) kernel oil and ethanol has been conducted. The effect of variable parameters of synthesis includes reaction time (3–7 h), temperature (35–60°C), amount of enzyme (0.1–0.3 g) and substrate molar ratio (ketapang kernel oil to ethanol, 1:1–1:3) were studied. Response surface methodology based on a five-level and four-variable central composite rotatable design were used to evaluate the interactive effects of the sinthesis parameters on the percentage yield of biodiedsel. The analysis of variance shows that the optimum conditions of the synthesis reaction were at 4.03 h of reaction time, 0.25 g of weight of enzyme, 45.04°C of temperature and 1.50 of substrate molar ratio. The actual experimental yield was 83.9% under optimum condition, which compared well to the maximum predicted value of 83.71%.