Jurnal Penelitian Teknologi Industri Vol. 4 No.1 Juni 2012 : 20-27 ISSN No.

: 2085-580X

PEMBUATAN ETANOL DARI LIMBAH INDUSTRI SERAT SABUT KELAPA

MANUFACTURE OF ETHANOL FROM WASTE OF COCONUT FIBRE INDUSTRY

Fahri Ferdinand Polii

Peneliti pada Baristand Industri Manado

ABSTRAK
.
Penelitian pembuatan etanol dari limbah pertanian telah dilakukan. Limbah yang diteliti ialah serat
sabut, serbuk sabut dan campuran serat dan serbuk sabut kelapa (sisa dari pengolahan serat
sabut).Tujuan penelitian yaitu untuk mendapatkan teknologi pengolahan limbah pertanian berupa
serat sabut, serbuk sabut dan campuran serat dan serbuk sabut kelapa menjadi etanol. Proses
pembuatan etanol dari limbah sabut kelapa melalui beberapa perlakuan percobaan untuk
mendapatkan cara terbaik (efisien dan efektif) dan hasil optimal. Tahapan penelitian meliputi
perlakuan pretreatment terhadap bahan baku limbah sabut kelapa, dihidrolisis menggunakan larutan
asam sulfat 1, 3, 6, 9, 15 dan 17 % dilanjutkan dengan pemanasan suhu 125 °C tekanan 2 bar selama
3 jam dan 6 jam, dilanjutkan dengan penyaringan, netralisasi menggunakan larutan NaOH hingga pH
5,5 dan penambahan ragi (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) 1, 2, 3, 4 dan 5 % difermentasi pada suhu 30
°C ( suhu kamar) dan 37 ° C (fermentor) aerob dan anaerob selama 1, 2, 3 dan 4 hari lalu didestilasi
untuk mendapatkan etanol. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa baik serat sabut kelapa, campuran
serat dan serbuk sabut kelapa, maupun serbuk sabut kelapa dengan perlakuan hidrolisis
menggunakan asam sulfat 3 %, lama hidrolisis 6 jam (suhu 125 °C tekanan 2 bar), penambahan ragi
3 % dan lama fermentasi 1 hari (suhu 37 °C) secara anaerob memberikan kadar etanol tertinggi.
Berdasarkan hasil penelitian pendahuluan di atas, maka penelitian dilanjutkan dengan membuat
etanol dari limbah sabut kelapa menggunakan metode hidrolisis asam (asam sulfat) konsentrasi 3 %,
lama hidrolisis 6 jam pada suhu 125 °C, proses pemisahan tanin dan netralisasi dengan NaOH hingga
pH 5,5, kemudian ditambahkan ragi 3 % lalu difermentasi secara anaerob dalam fermentor suhu 37
°C selama 1 hari kemudian didestilasi untuk mendapatkan etanol. Kadar etanol yang diperoleh
ternyata bervariasi antara 2,97-4,46 % dan masing-masing komponen penyusun sabut kelapa yaitu
serat dan serbuk sabut kelapa menghasilkan kadar etanol yang berbeda. Kadar etanol tertinggi
diperoleh pada serat sabut kelapa yaitu antara 4,02-4,46 % dan terendah pada serbuk sabut kelapa
yakni 2,97-3,41 %. Untuk memperoleh kadar etanol yang lebih tinggi, maka dilakukan penyulingan
vakum dan hasil yang diperoleh yakni kadar etanol pada limbah serat sabut kelapa 43,56 % dengan
rendemen 15 % dan serbuk sabut kelapa 36,24 % dengan rendemen 10 %.
Kata Kunci: etanol, hidrolisis, destilasi, fermentasi, serbuk sabut.

ABSTRACT

Research on the manufacture of ethanol from agricultural wastes had been carried out. Wastes that
used for this research are coconut fiber, cocopith, and the mixes of coconut fiber and cocopith (i.e.
waste from coconut fiber processing). This research was intended to get agricultural sewage treatment
technology in the form of fibers, cocopith, and mix of fiber and cocopith to produce ethanol, and
developing alternative energy of bioethanol derived from agricultural waste that not used as foodstuffs.
The process of making ethanol from waste of coconut fiber through some treatment of experiment is to
find out the best method (efficient and effective) and optimal results. The research stages include
pretreatment (preliminary study) of the raw material waste by hydrolyzing the coconut fiber using a
solution of dilute sulfuric acid (1, 3, 6, 9, 15 and 17 %) followed by heating at temperature of 125 °C
with pressure of 2 bar for 3 hours and 6 hours, with and without separation of thanin, followed by
filtration, neutralization using NaOH until the pH is 5.5, and the addition of yeast (Saccharomyces
cerevisiae) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5%, fermented at 30 ºC (room temperature) and 37 °C (fermentor), aerobic
and anaerobic fermentation for 1, 2, 3 and 4 days and be distilled to get ethanol.The results showed
that both coconut fiber, mixed of fiber and cocopith also cocopith which are hydrolyzed by 3 % of
sulfuric acid for 6 hours (temperature 125 °C and pressure of 2 bar), addition of 3 % yeast, and
anaerobic fermented for 2 days (temperature 37 °C), provide highest level of ethanol. Based on above
preliminary results, the research continued to get ethanol from waste coconut fiber by acid-hydrolysis
method (sulfuric acid 3 %), then hydrolyzed for 6 hours at a temperature of 125 °C, neutralized with
NaOH until a pH of 5.5, add 3 % of yeast and then fermented in anaerobic condition in fermenters at
temperature of 37 °C for 1 day then distilled out to get ethanol. Levels of ethanol obtained varies
between 2.97-4.46 % and each of the constituent components of the coconut fiber and cocopith
produced different levels of ethanol. The highest level of ethanol obtained from coconut fiber, that
were between 4.02-4.46% and the lowest obtained from cocopith between 2.97-3.41 %. To obtain
higher ethanol levels, distillation is carried out in vacum conditionand the results obtained are ethanol
levels derived from waste coconut fiber is 43.56 % with 15 % yield and from cocopith is 36,24 % with a
yield of 10 %.
Key Words: ethanol, hydrolyzed, distillation, fermented, cocopith.