The Formation of Local Catalyst from Zeolite, Characterization and Performance in the Reaction

Abstract

The existance of catalyst in a chemical reaction is very important. This catalyst can accelerate the chemical reaction. Currently there are local catalyst with the performance as good as commercial catalyst. One of those catalyst is zeolite. This paper determines the study of characterization of zeolite using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and explains the perfomance of zeolite in the synthesis of triacetin. Catalyst from zeolite was made by mixing with H2SO4 in various concentrations, neutralization and drying. From morfology analysis by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), density and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) obtain that mixing with H2SO4 of 0.5M is better than the others. From the study of catalyst synthesis from natural zeolite it can be concluded that natural zeolite before activation has fragile structure meanwhile after being activated it was formed crystal structure. The best zeolite crystal phase was obtained from zeolite activated by using 0,5 M H2SO4 with glycerol conversion of 94.45% and triacetin selectivity of 4.01%.