The Use of Non-Ionic Surfactants with Different Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) and Their Effect on Flow Properties in Palm Oil Biodiesel
Anya Prilla Azaria (a), Sylvia Ayu Bethari (b), Mohammad Nasikin (a*)

a) Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia
a)anya.prilla81[at]ui.ac.id
a*) mnasikin[at]che.ui.ac.id
b) PPPTMGB” LEMIGAS”, Jl. Ciledug Raya Kav.109, Cipulir, Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta 12230, Indonesia
b)sylvia.bethari[at]esdm.go.id

Abstract

The use of surfactants has been known to reduce the interfacial tension between 2 fluids. Surfactants have Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) values that vary depending on their function. Previously, the addition of surfactant Sorbitan Monooleate surfactant had succeeded in reducing Cloud Point by 4.2C and CFPP by 2C. In this study, two different types of nonionic surfactants were tried, namely Sorbitan Monolaurate and Sorbitan Trioleate which have HLB values of 8.6 and 1.8, respectively. These surfactants are expected to improve the flow properties of biodiesel by reducing the interfacial tension between monoglycerides and biodiesel. Each surfactant was varied in palm oil biodiesel with a content of 1% and 2% at room temperature (±27C) for a month with every week observation. It was tested using the flow properties parameters, which are Cloud Point, Pour Point, and CFPP. The addition of 1% Sorbitan Monolaurate to biodiesel caused a rise in Cloud Points, Pour Points, and CFPPs by 3.2C, 3.5C, and 6C, respectively. The addition of 2% Sorbitan Trioleate to biodiesel caused a decrease in Cloud Points and Pour Points respectively by 0.5C and 1C, but CFPP tended to be constant. Changes in functional groups between monoglyceride mixtures and surfactants were tested using FTIR.

Keywords: Biodiesel;Sorbitan Monoolaurate;Sorbitan Trioleate;Flow properties

Topic: Chemical Engineering