Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the total ratio of Cu-F to
Gelam Wood Ash (AKG) and Cu-F/AKG catalysts on the reactants through the
glycerol oxidation process based on the amount (mmol) of the product produced
and the characteristics of the Cu-F/AKG catalyst. The catalyst used in this study
was Cu-F impregnated in AKG. AKG was first activated using a sulfuric acid
solution, then impregnated using Cu-F with a variation of (0.125; 0.25; 0.5; 0.75
(w/w)). The impregnated catalyst was then calcined at 800? for 3 hours and
characterized using XRD, SEM-EDX, and FTIR instruments. The results of the
characterization of the catalyst using XRD showed that the catalyst has an
amorphous structure; SEM shows that the catalyst has a uniform size after
impregnation and EDX shows that the catalyst has the main components C
(28.94%), O (28.83%), and P (19.73%) as well as other mineral elements such as
Si, Ca, K, Mg, Na, and Al in percentage below 10%; and FTIR showed that the
catalyst consisted of carboxyl groups (-COOH ) and silanol groups (Si-OH ) and
siloxane (Si-O-Si) which are constituents of silica. The total ratio of catalyst to
AKG and reactants affects the amount (mmol) of the product produced, the highest
the ratio of catalyst to AKG and reactants, the highest the amount (mmol) of the
product produced from the oxidation process.
Keywords: Cu-F/AKG catalyst; Gelam Wood Ash; and Glycerol Oxidation.
