Judul: Pengaruh Konsentrasi Katalis Methyl Ester Sulfonic Acid Terhadap Sifat Fisikokimia Gliserol Ester Oleat yang Dihasilkan
Abstrak: Glycerol is a by-product from palm olein biodiesel industry which could be value-added to obtain various products. One of the alternatives is to modify glycerol become glycerol ester oleat. Before processing, glycerol was first refined using 5% (v/v) phosphoric acid 85%. The refinery showed that glycerol content was increased from 49% to 80%. Glycerol was then esterified with oleic acid and catalyst methyl ester sulfonic acid (MESA) to obtain glycerol ester. Esterification was conducted at 240°C and nitrogen atmosphere using 200 rpm of mixing for 90 minutes. The best catalyst concentration used in esterification process is at 0,5% and resulting glycerol ester oleat with acid number 48,07 mg KOH/g sample, density of 0,9124 g/cm3, viscosity 68,32 cP (25°C), kinematic viscosity 36 cSt (40°C), flash point 230°C and pour point -15°C.
Keyword: glycerol ester, glycerol

Judul: Rasio Molar dan Konsentrasi Katalis Methyl Ester Sulfonic Acid pada Proses Sintesis Gliseril Ester
Abstrak: Glycerol is a by-product of biodiesel industry production which still can be further processed into more value-added products. The example is the utilization of glycerol by means of esterification between glycerol and oleic acid with methyl ester sulfonic acid (MESA) catalyst, producing glyceril ester. The purpose of this study was to obtain the conditions of esterification with variable factors were molar ratio between oleic acid and glycerol and the concentrations of added MESA catalyst. Before esterification, crude glycerol was purified by adding 5% (v/v) phosphoric acid 85%, producing glycerol with ±80% glycerol content. Furthermore, glycerol was then esterified with supply of nitrogen, at temperature of 180 °C, and the stirring speed of 400 rpm for 90 minutes. The best combination of molar ratio and concentration of catalyst MESA is on ratio molar 0,8:1 (glycerol : oleic acid) with 0,5% added of catalyst MESA. Esterification on that condition produced glyceryl ester with the yield of 79,55%, density 0,940 g/cm3, acid value 44 mg KOH/g sample, viscosity 90 cP (30 oC), kinematic viscosity 49,04 cSt (40 oC), flash point 206 oC, pour point -1,5 oC, and boiling point 105 oC.
Keyword: Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), glyceryl ester, esterification, MESA, glycerol

Judul: Posisi Filogenetik Kura-Kura Carettochelys Insculpta  (Reptillia: Testudinata)
Abstrak: Carettochelys insculpta is an endemic freshwater turtle of southern Papua and northern Australia. Phylogenetic position of this turtle is remain unresolved until now. Most of the research conducted show close relationships of C. insculpta and members of Trionychidae family. However, some of the research show distance between C. insculpta and members of Trionychidae family. This research is conducted to analyze phylogenetic relationship between C. insculpta and other members of Testudinata using 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and both gene as markers. DNA samples were obtained from three different organisms of C. insculpta. Two species used as outgroups were Alligator mississippiensis and Iguana iguana. Phylogenetic analysis was carried out using Neighbor-Joining method with Felsenstein 1981 (F81) modeltest. A polytomy tree of Testudinata was produced by using 12S rRNA gene. However, analysis using 16S rRNA and both genes as markers confirmed that C. insculpta was located between the Chelonidae and the Trionychidae family.
Keyword: