PRODUKSI DAN UJI KUALITAS BIOETANOL DARI NIRA SIWALAN (BORASSUS FLABELLIFIER LINN) DENGAN ADSORBEN BATUAN ZEOLIT

Abstract

The growth of the transportation sector is getting bigger, so it can increase the need for fuel. The percentage of fuel production and consumption in Indonesia is inversely proportional this can lead to dwindling fuel supplies and fuel scarcity, so it is necessary to look for alternative fuels, namely bioethanol. The purpose of this study was to analyze the size of the zeolite mesh, and the economic feasibility of bioethanol raw materials from siwalan sap. This study used an experimental method with siwalan sap, which has a sugar content of 10–20%. The process of making bioethanol is carried out through multilevel fermentation and distillation processes. As much as 1000 ml of siwalan sap is pasteurized for 30 minutes at 62°C. Then fermented for 2 days using 60 grams of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast, 0.6 grams of urea, and multilevel distillation (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) at 78°C. Distillations 1 and 2 were carried out without using an adsorbent, while distillations 3, 4, and 5 used a zeolite rock adsorbent with variations in mesh sizes of 60, 70, and 80 at a zeolite heating temperature of 140°C. The results of the study obtained from measurements indicate that optimal mesh with mesh 80 produces the highest ethanol content of 92%. Calculation of the economic value of bioethanol siwalan sap at Rp. 233.369 / liter.

Keywords: Nira Siwalan, Zeolite, Bioethanol, Characteristics.