Effect of ultrasonic treatment on the preparation of zirconia pillared bentonite as a catalyst

Bentonite is material from soil and has unique properties. Because of these properties, bentonite has been exploited widely for different utilization. Bentonite has a simple structure that collapses at elevated temperatures. Then, it was required to prepare zirconia to be pillared with high surface area and particular active site. Ultrasonic treatment was an alternative technology for preparation of zirconia pillared bentonite. Modified of structure and surface active site with variable condition ultrasonic on power output (30%, 50%, 70%) with 20 kHz and 20 minutes preparation of zirconia pillared bentonite were studied using by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), chemisorption and Nitrogen gas sorption technique. The results were confirmed that the presence of polycation zirconium under ultrasonic indicated an increase in the basal spacing from 14.93 Å to 19.42 Å and 10 times increase of specific surface area from 25.150 m2/g to 265.076 m2/g. It was confirmed that ultrasonic treatment with three type variations caused significant change in the structure of bentonite and obtained the highest increase in surface area. Activity of catalytic provided an effective and efficient conversion on the esterification reaction. Finally, it was found that the higher power output ultrasonic treatment at 70% of power output resulted in partial damage of the pillar bentonite.