Box-Behnken Design for Optimization on Biodiesel Production from Palm Oil and Methyl Acetate using Ultrasound Assisted Interesterification Method

Energy demand is currently increasing in line with technological and economic developments, but not accompanied by an increase energy reserves. So we need another alternative that can be renewed, namely biodiesel. Biodiesel has been produced commercially through the transesterification from vegetable oil methanol using catalyst produces esters glycerol. The formation of glycerol which by-product reduce its value, so it needs to done separation process. Therefore, a new route proposed this study, interesterification reaction (non-alcoholic route) methyl acetate as alkyl group supplier potassium methoxide catalyst. superiority product biodiesel triacetin byproducts have economical value added formulations because their solubility no side process needed. To yield rate, ultrasound method was used study. optimize factors affect (molar ratio oil, concentration, temperature, time), Box-Behnken design (BBD) used. Optimal operating conditions produce yields 98.64 % are at molar palm 18.74, concentration 1.24 %, temperature 57.84 °C, time 12.69 minutes.