Performance of Activated Natural Zeolite/Cu as a catalyst on Degradation of Glycerol into Ethanol Assisted by Ultrasonic

The purpose of this study was to convert glycerol into ethanol using the catalyst of activated natural zeolite/Cu assisted by ultrasonic. The catalyst was characterized using X-Ray Diffraction and BET isotherm adsorption. The degradation process carried out at the temperature of 60 °C and at various time of 1, 2, and 4 hours. The product of glycerol degradation was analyzed using Gas Chromatography. The results showed that the structure of natural zeolite was a mordenite. The BET analysis showed that the surface area of natural zeolite is 99.096 m²/g greater than that of natural zeolite impregnated Cu that is 6.597 m²/g. The total pores, however, a natural zeolite is 0.026 cm³ smaller than that of natural zeolite impregnated Cu that is 0.058 cm³. The highest yield of ethanol as the product of glycerol degradation was 3.704% produced when the sonication times is 2 hours using activated natural zeolite catalyst. The activated zeolite has a prospect to be used as a degradation reaction catalyst for molecules that goes through the Bronsted Lowry acid mechanism. (paper)