OICC Press Iranian Journal of Catalysis 2345-4865 14 4 2024 10 08 Sulfuric Acid-Activated Indonesian Natural Bentonite as Solid Acid Catalysts in Microwave-Protocol Nitrobenzene Synthesis 1 9 10.57647/j.ijc.2024.1404.38 EN Zulfaa Lola Ardelia Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia Aldino Javier Saviola Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8959-8148 Karna Wijaya Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8155-0896 Mokhammad Fajar Pradipta Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8676-0163 Hilda Ismail Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4052-6424 Budhijanto Budhijanto Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9638-1079 Wahyu Dita Saputri Research Center for Climate and Atmosphere, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bandung, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6219-2584 Latifah Hauli Research Center for Chemistry, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), The B. J. Habibie Science and Technology Area, South Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2307-9789 Amalia Kurnia Amin Research Center for Chemistry, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), The B. J. Habibie Science and Technology Area, South Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9409-480X Journal Article 2024 10 08 Research has been conducted on activating Indonesian natural bentonite using sulfuric acid to produce solid acid catalysts for nitrobenzene synthesis in a batch microwave reactor that is in line with green chemistry principles. Indonesian natural bentonite was refluxed with sulfuric acid at various concentrations of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 M, followed by calcination with N2 gas flow to obtain NB, SNB-1, SNB-2, SNB-3, and SNB-4. The results showed that activation of natural bentonite by sulfuric acid can change its physochemical properties. SNB-2 (sulfated natural bentonite 2 M) is the best catalyst with the highest acidity value compared to other concentration variations. The synthesis of nitrobenzene was carried out in an 800-watt microwave oven at 60 °C for 2.5 hours with stirring at 600 rpm. We obtained the highest benzene conversion of 33.6% over the SNB-2 catalyst with nitrobenzene selectivity of 100%. Sulfuric acid-activated bentonite has good stability for three consecutive runs, so in the future, we can apply this material as a catalyst candidate for the greener nitrobenzene industry. Research Highlights Adding H2SO4 to natural bentonite causes changes in its physicochemical properties. SNB-2 is the best catalyst in microwave-assisted nitrobenzene synthesis. SNB-2 catalyst has good stability for three consecutive runs.