| Abstrak/Abstract |
Conversion of n-butanol into 1,1-dibutoxybutane by using Fe/activated carbon
(AC) catalyst has been done. This research was conducted by preparing 60-80 mesh
activated carbon from coconut shell charcoal, then activated it at 850 °C for 4 hours
using CO2 gas at flow rate of 10 mL/min. The activated carbon was then washed by
acetone and HCl 1.0 M solution. Subsequently, the activated carbon was
impregnated with 2?Cl3 and reduced for 3 hours at 650 °C using H2 gas at flow
rate of 10 mL/min. The contents of Fe, Ca and Na in the activated carbon were
determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Characterization of the
catalyst was conducted to determine the acidity of activated carbon and catalyst
Fe/AC by gravimetric method using ammonia adsorption. The process of conversion
reaction of n-butanol into 1,1-dibutoxybutane was carried out in an electric furnace
by varying the temperature of 500, 550, and 600 °C, the mass of catalyst 10, 15, and
20 g, and H2 gas at flow rate of 5, 10, and 15 mL/min. Variations of experiments were
conducted based on Taguchi method and produced nine variations of the
experiment. Conversion reaction products were analyzed by FTIR, GC, GC-MS, 1H- NMR and 13C-NMR. The analysis showed that the activated carbon containing
impurities such as Fe, Ca and Na metals. Washing activated carbon by acetone and
HCl solution decreased the content of Fe, Ca, and Na metals significantly. Activated
carbon acidity increased after Fe impregnation, from 6.490 mmol/g to 10.091
mmol/g. The highest conversion of n-butanol into 1,1-dibutoxybutane was 59.51%,
based on Taguchi optimization at temperature of 550 °C, mass of catalyst 15 g, and
H2 gas flow rate of 5 mL/min. |
