Conversion of Bioethanol to Diethyl Ether Catalyzed by Sulfuric Acid and Zeolite

Ethoxy ethane, or diethyl ether, has been successfully synthesized through the condensation reaction of bioethanol produced from fruit waste fermentation using acid-activated H-Zeolite, H2SO4/H-Zeolite, and H2SO4 as catalysts. Zeolite activation was carried out using the acidification method with 1 M, 2 M, 4 M, and 6 M  H2SO4 for 24 hours. Activated zeolites were characterized using infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and NaOH titration. The condensation reaction of bioethanol was carried out by catalysis of  H2SO4/H-Zeolite with various concentrations of 1 M, 2 M, 4 M, and 6 M and catalyzed by 2 M, 4 M, and 6 M acid-activated H-Zeolite. The condensation reaction process was carried out with a ratio of bioethanol to catalyst of 2:1 (w/w) using the fractional distillation method. Ethoxy ethane resulting from the condensation reaction was characterized using a GC instrument.