<![CDATA[Crude palm oil (CPO) is Indonesia's most competitive biodiesel feedstock, but small-scale lines give low yield and a free fatty acid (FFA) content far above the 2 % ceiling for alkaline transesterification. This study optimises extraction from oil palm loose fruits and esterification over acid-activated natural zeolite against two targets: maximum CPO yield and residual FFA below that ceiling. Both stages used a factorial completely randomised design, ANOVA and Duncan's test (5 %). Extraction varied steaming time (60, 90, 120 min) and imbibition water (15, 20, 25 % v/m); steaming time and the interaction were highly significant, imbibition water alone was not, and 120 min with 25 % (v/m) gave the highest yield, 16.92 %. The oil met SNI 01-2901-2006 for colour, moisture and sediment but not for FFA (9.00 %) or iodine value (45.20 g I₂/100 g). Esterification applied activated zeolite at 1, 3 and 5 % (m/v) for 60, 75 and 90 min at 60 °C; all sources of variation were highly significant, and 90 min with 3 % (m/v) removed 67.55 % of the FFA. The product met the SNI 7182:2015 limits for density (887 kg/m³), viscosity (4.33 cSt), water (0.15 %) and sediment (0.17 %). The yield target was therefore achieved and four of five product specifications satisfied, but the FFA target was approached rather than reached: 2.24 % residual FFA falls 0.24 percentage points short and needs a second esterification pass. The route nevertheless offers small mills a recoverable, non-corrosive alternative to homogeneous acid pre-treatment.]]>
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