Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD), a by-product of CPO industry, contains approx. 82%-wt of free fatty acids, which can be utilized as raw material for Magnesium Salts of Fatty Acids (Mg-PFAD). The objectives of the experiment were to produce Mg-PFAD salts through saponification-fusion reaction of PFAD at low temperature and ambient pressure and investigate the effect of MgO to fatty acid molar ratio on reaction conversion and yield. Next, washing Mg-PFAD salts with ethanol was able to facilitate the recovery of vitamin E (tocopherol and tocotrienol) from PFAD. Composition of Mg-PFAD were determined by AAS and GC analysis. Based on the data, yield of Mg-PFAD was increased by the increased of MgO to PFAD molar ratio. Mg-content of the product was within the standard according to FAO reference (4-5%-wt). Reaction was completed within 5-7 min after the addition of H2O (as catalyst).

The microbial fuel cell (MFC) is an alternative technology that can be used to simultaneously solve problems related to wastewater production and energy demand. This study investigates the influence of electrode distance on power density in a microbial fuel cell using tapioca wastewater. A graphite sheet without metal catalyst was used for both electrodes, separated by a Nafion membrane. Four variations of electrode distance were used. The MFC with the longest electrode distance achieved the highest equilibrium OCV (676 mV), while the MFC with the shortest electrode distance achieved the highest power density (7.74 mW/m 2). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement suggested that the charge transfer resistance was dominant in all MFC configurations. The wastewater COD removal was in the range of 35-46%, which is in accordance with the power density of MFCs.