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Microwave-assisted green synthesis of nitrobenzene using sulfated natural zeolite as a potential solid acid catalyst

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Abstract

Natural zeolite and sulfated natural zeolite catalyst materials have been successfully prepared, characterized, and applied as a replacement for the role of a sulfuric acid catalyst in the synthesis of nitrobenzene. Natural zeolites were prepared into uniform-sized powders and then refluxed with H2SO4 with varying concentrations of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 M, proceeded by calcination with N2 gas flow (labeled as NZ, SNZ-1, SNZ-2, SNZ-3, and SNZ-4). Nitrobenzene was synthesized in a batch microwave reactor using natural zeolite and sulfated natural zeolite catalysts with the best acidity value. The results showed that the sulfuric acid treatment of natural zeolite caused changes in its physical and chemical characteristics. The NZ catalyst has an acidity value of 1.742 mmol g−1, and the 2 M concentration variation resulted in the sulfated natural zeolite with the best acidity value of 1.625 mmol g−1. The optimal amount of catalyst required is 1.0 g. Both catalysts are selective toward the nitration reaction of benzene. The average benzene conversion produced for each catalyst was 41.53 ± 3.61% and 58.92 ± 1.37%. Furthermore, the SNZ-2 catalyst has better reusability for three reaction runs.

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Data availability

The authors declare that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the paper. Should raw data files be needed in another format, they are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, for funding this research through the Community Research Grant Program of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences/Chemistry Department 2023 with contract number 63/UN1/FMIPA.1.3/KP/PT.01.03/2023. The authors acknowledge the facilities and scientific and technical support from Advanced Characterization Laboratories Serpong, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Indonesia, through E-Science Services (E-Layanan Sains).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia

    Aldino Javier Saviola, Karna Wijaya, Wangsa Wangsa & Prastyo Prastyo

  2. Research Center for Quantum Physics, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), The B. J. Habibie Science and Technology Area, South Tangerang, Banten, 15314, Indonesia

    Wahyu Dita Saputri

  3. Research Center for Chemistry, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), The B. J. Habibie Science and Technology Area, South Tangerang, Banten, 15314, Indonesia

    Latifah Hauli & Amalia Kurnia Amin

  4. Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia

    Hilda Ismail

  5. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia

    Budhijanto Budhijanto

  6. Department of Advanced Materials and Engineering, Hanseo University, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, 31962, Republic of Korea

    Won-Chun Oh

Authors
  1. Aldino Javier Saviola
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  2. Karna Wijaya
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Correspondence to Karna Wijaya.

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Saviola, A.J., Wijaya, K., Saputri, W.D. et al. Microwave-assisted green synthesis of nitrobenzene using sulfated natural zeolite as a potential solid acid catalyst. Appl Nanosci 13, 6575–6589 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-023-02941-z

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