Synthesis of Bio-additive for Low Sulfur Fuel Diesel: Transesterification of Soybean Oil and Ethylene Glycol using K2CO3 Catalyst
Rhiby Ainur Basit Hariyanto1), R. Arizal Firmansyah 1,3), R.Y Perry Burhan1,2*), Yulfi Zetra1)

1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Data Analytics, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya, Indonesia.
*pburhan[at]chem.its.ac.id
2. Politeknik Energi dan Mineral Akamigas, Jl Gajah Mada no 38, Cepu 58315, Indonesia
3. Department of Chemistry Education, Faculty of Science and Technology, Uin Walisongo, Semarang, Indonesia.

Abstract

The development of the transportation industry has an impact on increasing the consumption of fuels such as diesel fuel. The increase in diesel fuel consumption has an impact on increasing exhaust emissions such as SO2 gas which can cause acid rain. The solution offered to this problem is by reducing the sulfur content in diesel fuel. However, the desulphurization of diesel fuel can have an impact on reducing its lubricity properties. Therefore, it is necessary to add an additive compound that can increase the lubricity properties of the diesel fuel. In this research, 2-hydroxyethyl ester (HEE) was synthesized as an additive to increase the lubricity of diesel fuel. This compound was synthesized through the transesterification reaction of soybean oil and ethylene glycol with K2CO3 as the base catalyst. The composition of the synthesized additives was analyzed using the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) instrument. Based on the results of GC-MS spectrum analysis, it is known that the 2-hydroxyethyl ester compound has been formed with a yield of 66.5% (relative to the area of the chromatogram peak). The HEE compound obtained is a mixture of 2 hydroxyethyl palmitate, 2 hydroxyethyl linoleate, 2 hydroxyethyl stearate, 2 hydroxyethyl arachidonate, 2 hydroxyethyl nervate, and 2 hydroxyethyl behenate.

Keywords: Low Sulfur Diesel- Lubricity Improver- bio additive- transesterification

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