PENGARUH KOMPOSISI PRECURSOR TERHADAP KARAKTERISTIK KATALIS NANOKOMPOSIT ZnO/Fe2O3

Abstract

<p><strong><em>Abstract:</em></strong><em> Biodiesel is a very potential alternative energy because of its usable directly to substitutes petrosolar in diesel engine. Biodiesel is produced through catalytic esterification process of vegetable oil and alcohol. ZnO as transesterification catalyst has given high yield. To improve the catalytic and separation performance, the particle.size is decreased and the magnetic behaviour should be added to the catalyst. The aim of the research were to obtain nanocomposite ZnO/Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and determine physical, catalytic and separation performance of nanocomposite ZnO/Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>. Assisted by carrier air precursor solution of Zn(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub> and Fe(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub> was nebulized and flowed to the inner tube of the burner. LPG gas dan oxidant air were flowed to the inner annulus and outer annulus, respectively. The solid produced was separated from gas by particle filter. The solid was then examined by XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, BET and the catalytic performance.The result showed the particle had magnetic behaviour and the composition ZnO and Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3 </sub>in particle was proportional to the composition Zn(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub> and Fe(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub> in the precursor. the size of particle were between 20nm-90nm and precursor composition had no effect on particle size. Examination of BET show that the specific surface area of particle was between 45-58.95 m<sup>2</sup>/gram ( It was able to be converted to paricle size of 18-25 nm)</em></p><p><em> </em><strong><em>Keywords</em></strong><strong><em>:</em></strong><em> Tran-esterification, nanocomposite heterogeneous catalyst, magnetic behaviour, particle size </em></p>