Optimization of Zeolite Catalyst Preparation from Tawas, NaOH and Water Glass By Response Surface Methodology

Eli Maria Ulfah, Fani Alifia Yasnur, dan Istadi
Chemical Reaction Engineering & Catalysis (CREC), Jurusan Teknik Kimia,
Universitas Diponegoro, Jln. Prof. H. Sudharto, Tembalang, Semarang
Received 20 December 2006; Received in revised form 26 December 2006; Accepted 29 December 2006
Abstract
Zeolite is one of the most useful natural resources in Indonesian chemical industries. Natural zeolite has been explored greatly so that the quantity getting lesser and lesser. The synthetic one has been greatly used in industries but in Indonesia, it is rarely produced, generally it is imported. There are many advantages of zeolite X, i.e. as a catalyst, adsorbent, gas separation, ion exchanger, petrochemical, and detergent. Due to these advantages, it is necessary to run this experiment. The objectives of this experiments is determining optimal operating conditions of synthesizing zeolite X from alum and waterglass with two independents variables, they are operating temperature, and NaOH 50%/waterglass ratio. The method used in determining the optimal condition of each variables is Response Surface Methodology (RSM). X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) was employed in product characterization. Product is also tested as an Fe adsorbent. From this experiment obtained empirical model fitted to the experiment results, while the optimal conditions which deliver maximum Fe adsorption percentage is at operating temperature and NaOH 50%/waterglass ratio 92.3
C and 1.85, respectively. © 2006 CREG. All rights reserved. .
Keywords: Zeolit X, sintesis zeolit, Response Surface Methodology