Evaluasi Potensi Makroalgae Air Tawar Spirogyra sp., Hydrodictyon sp.

, Chara
sp., Nitella sp., dan Cladophora sp. sebagai Sumber Minyak Nabati

Mahasiswa: Ghesyka Andini

Skripsi (2009), Program Studi Sarjana Biologi SITH, email: dec14agluvu@yahoo.com

Pembimbing: Dr. Erly Marwani

SITH-ITB, email: erly@sith.itb.ac.id

Gelar: Sarjana Sains (S.Si), Wisuda April 2009

Penelitian mengenai potensi minyak Jarak dan Kelapa Sawit sebagai sumber energi
terbarukan telah banyak dilaporkan. Namun demikian, algae pun memiliki potensi yang
menjanjikan sebagai sumber energi terbarukan untuk bahan baku produksi biodiesel.

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memperoleh jenis makroalgae air tawar yang
mengandung kadar minyak tinggi yang dapat dikonversi menjadi biodiesel.

Sampel makroalgae hijau air tawar dikoleksi dari kolam dan sungai di Kebun Raya
Bogor, sawah di Dago Biru (Bandung), Danau Lido di Sukabumi, dan Danau Situ
Bagendit di Garut. Sampel makroalgae selanjutnya dibersihkan dan dikeringkan dengan
cara dijemur selama 1-2 hari lalu ditimbang dan kemudian dikeringkan kembali di dalam
oven dengan suhu 60degC selama 2-3 hari hingga diperoleh berat kering yang konstan.

Sampel algae yang telah kering lalu diekstraksi dengan metode maserasi
menggunakan pelarut n-heksan selama 2x24 jam, kemudian dipartisi dengan metanol
dan dilakukan penghilangan pigmen yang terlarut dengan menggunakan karbon aktif
selama 2-3 hari. Hasil ekstraksi kemudian diuapkan dengn vacuum evaporator dan
diperoleh minyak algae.

Kualitas minyak algae hasil ekstraksi selanjutnya dianalisis berdasarkan nilai angka
asam, angka penyabunan dan angka iodium dengan menggunakan metode standar,
yaitu berturut-turut FBI-A01-03, FBIA03-03 dan FBI-A04-03. Hasil analisis kuantifikasi
kadar minyak makroalga yang diuji menunjukkan Nitella sp. 0,61% b/b, Cladophora sp.
0,57% b/b, Hydrodictyon sp. 0,54% b/b, Chara sp. 0,3% b/b, dan Spirogyra sp. 0,15%
b/b. Hasil pengujian kualitas minyak makroalga menunjukkan angka asam pada kisaran
55-143 mg KOH/g yang mengindikasikan kondisi asam tinggi pada minyak algae
tersebut, angka penyabunan dengan nilai 400-500 mg KOH/g menunjukkan minyak
alga memiliki rantai karbon yang pendek yaitu berada pada kisaran asam butirat (C-4)
sehingga lebih cocok dimanfaatkan sebagai sumber pangan (seperti suplemen) dan
pakan ternak, dan angka iodium pada kisaran 3-28 g I2/100 g yang berada pada
kisaran persyaratan standar bahan baku biodiesel.

Kata Kunci: Makroalgae, biodiesel, minyak algae

The Potency of Freshwater Macroalgae Spirogyra sp., Hydrodictyon sp.,
Chara sp., Nitella sp., and Cladophora sp. for the Source of Biodiesel

After palm and Jathropha oil were declared as the source of renewable energy, algae
have emerged as one of the promising source of biodiesel production. The aim of this
study was to evaluate the potency of fresh-water macro algae as the source of
biodiesel. In this study, five species of freshwater macro algae were collected from
ponds and rivers in Kebun Raya Bogor, rice field at Dago Biru (Bandung), Lido Lake in
Sukabumi, and Situ Bagendit Lake in Garut. Samples of macroalgae were further
washed and dried within 1-2 days. They were dried again in the oven with the
temperature of 60degC for 2-3 days to obtain a constant dry weight. The dried
macroalgae were then extracted in n-hexane for 48 hours. The n-hexane extracts were
then fractionated by methanol to gave n-hexane layers and the methanol layers. The n-
hexane layers were added with activated charcoal for 2-3 days to performed excision of
pigment. The liquid n-hexane solution lacking residual pigments were then filtered to
remove the charcoal. The results were then evaporated with vacuum evaporator to
obtain the algae oil. Quality of algae oil were further analyzed based on the value of
acid number, saponification and iodine value using standard methods, FBI-A01-03, FBI-
A03-03 and FBI-A04-03 respectively. Quantitative analysis of the macro algae oil
content showed that the highest content was observed in Nitella sp. 0.61% b/b, followed
by Cladophora sp. 0.57% b/b, Hydrodictyon sp. 0.54% b/b, Chara sp. 0.3% b/b, and
Spirogyra sp. 0.15% b/b respectively. The acid number, saponification number and
iodine value of the five tested samples indicated on the range of 55-143 mg KOH/g,
400-500 mg KOH/g, and 3-28 g I2/100 g respectively. Those results implied that the
tested samples have low oil content, and do not meet the standard requirement of
national biodiesel due to a high acid number, low iodine value and high saponification
number. Based on the chemical and physical quality test of the macro algae, it is
assumed the algae oil contain high acid conditions, and short carbon chain that
resemble butyric acid (C-4), so they may be more suitable to be used as food sources
(such as supplements) and cattle feed.