Diisopropyl Ether Production via Isopropanol Catalytic Dehydration over Zirconium Phosphate Modified Natural Zeolite

Authors

• Hasanudin Hasanudin * ¹
• Wan Ryan Asri ^{1, 2}
• Jeniva Rindi Anindia ^{3, 2}
• Suheryanto Suheryanto ^{3, 2}
• Zainal Fanani ^{1, 2}
• Nino Rinaldi ¹
• Muhammad Al Muttaqii ¹

1. Research Center for Chemistry, National Research and Innovation Agency(BRIN-Indonesia), Science and Technology Park B.J. Habibie, Serpong, South Tangerang 15314, Banten Indonesia
2. Biofuel Research Group, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Sriwijaya, Indralaya 30662, Indonesia
3. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Sriwijaya, Indralaya 30662, Indonesia

Abstract

In this work, diisopropyl ether (DIPE) was produced through catalytic dehydration of isopropanol over zirconium phosphate-modified phosphate modified natural zeolite. The catalyst was prepared via the wet impregnation method. They were tested at 150 ˚C for 3 hours under a reflux system. The effect of zeolite-Zr(H₂PO₄)₄ metal loading and zeolite-Zr without phosphate incorporation on dehydration isopropanol was also assessed. The results showed the natural zeolite was successfully modified as confirmed by XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX, N₂ physisorption, and catalyst acidity by the gravimetric technique. The highest isopropanol conversion (66.73%) was accomplished by 8 mEq/g zeolite-Zr(H₂PO₄)₄ followed by the DIPE yield and selectivity up to 35.81% and 47.8%, respectively. Further reusability investigation showed that zeolite-Zr(H₂PO₄)₄ catalyst provided adequate reusability up to the fourth reused with relatively decreased catalytic activity towards isopropanol dehydration.

Highlights

• The natural zeolite was modified via the wet impregnation method.
• The natural zeolite was successfully modified as confirmed by XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX, N₂ physisorption, and catalyst acidity measurements.
• The zeolite-Zr(H₂PO₄)₄ had higher catalytic activity than zeolite-Zr towards isopropanol dehydration
• The zeolite-Zr(H₂PO₄)₄ catalyst (8 mEq/g metal loading) exhibited the highest isopropanol conversion, DIPE yield and selectivity, respectively.
• Zeolite-Zr(H₂PO₄)₄ catalyst provided adequate reusability up to the fourth reused towards isopropanol dehydration.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

• Zirconium phosphate.
• Isopropanol conversion
• Diisopropyl ether
• Zeolite
• Modification