Utilization of Byproducts from transesterification of waste vegetable oil as a source of polyol in making polyurethane adsorbents

Abstract

The objective of this research is to make polyurethane adsorbent using glycerol from Waste Vegetable Oil. It is transesterified by using two steps. The first using methanol and KOH, the second using methanol and H3PO4. Crude glycerol was purified by using the activated carbon. The analysis of glycerol and polyurethane was done by functional group analysis using FTIR spectrophotometer. The FTIR test of the glycerol from Waste Vegetable Oil showed that the presence of hydroxyl and hydrocarbon group are in 3379 and 2939 cm-1 also the resemblance of the spectra between standard glycerol to the resulting glycerol. FTIR test of the polyurethane showed that reduction the intensity of isocyanate group on number 2276 cm-1 from the MDI, thus indicating the formation of urethane groups. Based on swelling degree test, polyurethane with glycerol 10% resulting a high absorbency, it indicates that polyurethane is good adsorbent.