HYDROGENATION OF CITRONELLA OIL DERIVATIVES TO 3,7-DIMETHYL-1-OCTANOL AS POTENTIAL BIO-BASED ADDITIVES OVER MODIFIED NATURAL ZEOLITE CATALYSTS

Abstract

An alternative way for saving energy and reduce emission in fuel consumption is using oxygenate compounds as fuel additives that can reduce carbon monoxide and soot that is created during the burning of the fuel. One derivatives of citronella oil fraction, 3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol, is a potential alcohol compound for fragrance and fuel additives producing efficiency energy and environmentally friendly. In this research, the conversion of citronella oil fraction (containing> 60% citronellal) into 3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol was investigated using Ni based natural zeolite-Bogor (ZAB) catalysts through hydrogenation process. The structure and properties of the Ni/ZAB catalysts have been investigated extensively using some of characterization techniques for solid materials i.e. XRF and TEM. Variations of weight catalysts and temperature reaction were conducted to determine the optimum conditions for this reaction. The products were analyzed using GC-MS instrumentation. The optimum conditions for the hydrogenation of citronella oil fractions using catalysts Ni / ZAB-20wt% -HT were obtained at 300oC with 10% weight of catalysts produced 12% of the 3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol compound.