Synthesis of Silica-Carbon Composites Based on Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) with Sulfonation Process As a Solid Acid Catalyst Application

This study was purposed to study the effect of PEG concentration on the characteristics of silica-carbon composite as acid catalyst and the effect of sulfonation time on acid catalyst produced. The synthesis procedure includes the following steps: (a) preparation of silica gel, (b) impregnation of silica pore with carbon, (c) carbonization, (d) sulfonation, and (e) characterization of the resulting product. The preparation of silica gel by using PEG as carbon source is made by adding PEG solution into 1 M HCl which is then mixed into the waterglass. The template was removed by calcination at 550ºC for 5 hours. Sulfonation was carried out by mixing the silica-carbon composite with a 98% concentrated H₂SO₄ solution and heated at a temperature of 150°C with a time variable. Samples were characterized by Nitrogen Adsorption / Desorption, Electron Microscophy Scanning (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDAX), FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra Red) Spectrophotometry, ion capacity test, and esterification reaction test. Based on the research, the best surface area is achieved in 3 g PEG template that is equal to 287,109 m²/ g. The surface area value is directly proportional to the value of ion capacity where the largest ion capacity value for PEG 3 gram is 6.31 meq / gr. The yield of the greatest reaction is obtained on PEG variable 2 gram 10 hour sulfonation time of 26,22% which is higher than the reaction without catalyst with 16% mol yield.