Characterization of Kaolin Nanoparticles for Biodiesel Catalyst

Currently, the use of nanotechnology is increasing rapidly in all aspects of life. This study uses natural materials, namely kaolin. Kaolin has a composition of (Al2O3.2SiO2.2H2O), rich in kaolinite minerals because it is composed of kaolinite (85-95%). Kaolin particles are in the form of hexagonal sheets consisting of layers of tetrahedral silica and octahedral alumina. This content makes kaolin suitable for use as a heterogeneous catalyst in the manufacture of biodiesel production. The manufacture of kaolin catalysts is carried out by a calcination process at high temperatures to form metakaolin. In order for the reaction time to be faster and produce higher conversion, the particle size is reduced to nanoparticle size. The nanoparticle process is carried out with energy using Ball Milling High Energy Milling Ellipse 3D Motion. After ball milling the kaolin sample before and after the calcination process were analyzed using a particle size analyzer (PSA), then used as a kaolin catalyst and the optimum value of the % yield of biodiesel was tested by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy- Energy dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) to see the chemical composition and particle size for all specimens. Based on XRD data and morphological analysis using SEM, the calcination process causes changes in the structure of kaolin from pseudohexagonal layered to an amorphous phase. rom this analysis, new developments in nano materials can be achieved and can be utilized especially for biodiesel production. The smaller the catalyst particles, the faster they will react during the production process biodiesel. Biodiesel uses used cooking oil as raw material with methanol. The %FFA content in used cooking oil is more than 5% so that in this biodiesel process it uses esterification and transesterification processes. The optimum %yield of biodiesel is 98.48%.