KATALIS NIKEL TERIMPREGNASI PADA SILIKA MESOPORI DARI DAUN SALAK TERCETAK EKSTRAK BIJI LERAK UNTUK HYDROTREATING MINYAK NYAMPLUNG MENJADI BIOAVTUR BERBANTUAN MICROWAVE

Andini Aprila Putri, Prof. Drs. Karna Wijaya, M.Eng., Dr.rer.nat.; Dr. Amalia Kurnia Amin, S.Si.

2026 | Skripsi | KIMIA

Peningkatan permintaan terhadap industri penerbangan, yang berdampak pada kenaikan emisi gas CO2 dan penipisan bahan bakar fosil, mendorong pengembangan solusi bahan bakar yang ramah lingkungan. Penelitian ini berhasil mensintesis katalis silika mesopori terimpregnasi nikel (Ni/MS) untuk mengonversi minyak nyamplung menjadi bioavtur. Silika mesopori (MS) disintesis melalui metode sol-gel dari abu daun salak dengan ekstrak biji lerak sebagai agen pencetak alami, dengan variasi volume (5, 10, dan 15 mL). Impregnasi logam nikel dilakukan pada silika mesopori terbaik, yakni MS 10, dengan bantuan ultrasonik dengan variasi konsentrasi nikel sebesar 2,5; 5; dan 7,5% (b/b). Katalis yang dihasilkan kemudian dianalisis menggunakan XRF, XRD, FTIR, SAA, SEM–EDX mapping, FESEM–EDX mapping, TEM-SAED, dan NH3-TPD. Proses hydrotreating minyak nyamplung dilakukan dengan bantuan microwave pada tekanan H2 atmosferik. Produk cair hasil hydrotreating selanjutnya dianalisis menggunakan GC–MS untuk menentukan selektivitas fraksi avtur (C8–C16).

Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa katalis Ni 5/MS berhasil disintesis dengan  morfologi semisferik, luas permukaan spesifik sebesar 217,71 m²/g, volume pori total sebesar 0,71 cm³/g, diameter pori rata-rata sebesar 4,46 nm, nilai keasaman total sebesar 1,20 mmol/g, dan ukuran partikel rata-rata sebesar 21,44 nm. Katalis ini mampu memberikan performa terbaik dalam proses hydrotreating minyak nyamplung menjadi bioavtur dengan nilai yield sebesar 51,32% selektivitas sebesar 70,02%. Katalis ini mampu mempertahankan kinerja katalitiknya hingga empat kali siklus penggunaan berturut-turut, dengan yield 34,82% selektivitas 52,19%. Penelitian ini menawarkan inovasi katalis hijau berbasis biomassa serta metode produksi bioavtur yang ramah lingkungan untuk dikaji lebih lanjut pada industri biofuel skala besar yang berkelanjutan.  

The increasing demand in the aviation industry, which contributes to rising CO2 emissions and the depletion of fossil fuel resources, has accelerated the development of environmentally sustainable fuel alternatives. In this study, nickel impregnated mesoporous silica (Ni/MS) catalysts were successfully synthesized for the conversion of tamanu oil into bio-jet fuel. Mesoporous silica (MS) was prepared via a sol–gel method using salacca leaf ash as the silica source and lerak seed extract as a natural templating agent, with varying extract volumes of 5, 10, and 15 mL. Nickel impregnation was subsequently performed on the optimal mesoporous silica support, namely MS 10, assisted by ultrasonication, with nickel loadings of 2.5, 5, and 7.5 wt%. The synthesized catalysts were comprehensively characterized using XRF, XRD, FTIR, SAA, SEM–EDX mapping, FESEM–EDX mapping, TEM-SAED, and NH3-TPD analyses. The hydrotreating process of tamanu oil was conducted under atmospheric hydrogen pressure, assisted by microwave irradiation. The resulting liquid products were analyzed using GC–MS to evaluate the selectivity toward the jet fuel fraction (C8–C16).
The results demonstrated that the Ni 5/MS catalyst was successfully synthesized with a semi-spherical morphology, a specific surface area of 217.71 m²/g, a total pore volume of 0.71 cm³/g, an average pore diameter of 4.46 nm, a total acidity of 1.20 mmol/g, and an average particle size of 21.44 nm. This catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic performance in the hydrotreating of tamanu oil into bio-jet fuel, achieving a product yield of 51.32% and a selectivity of 70.02%. Furthermore, the catalyst maintained considerable catalytic activity over four consecutive reaction cycles, retaining a yield of 34.82% and a selectivity of 52.19%. This study presents a promising green catalyst innovation derived from biomass resources, along with an environmentally benign bio-jet fuel production approach that holds significant potential for further development in sustainable large-scale biofuel industries. 

Kata Kunci : bioavtur, hydrotreating, minyak nyamplung, nikel, silika mesopori