The effect of binder concentration on characteristic of pellet catalyst.

The CaO.SiO2 gel preparation process was carried out based on the Sol-Gel method by mixing CaO Sol with SiO2 sol in a ratio of 1: 5. Starch-based binders with variations in the amount of 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5% were added. The dry gel has resulted. The dry gel ground, sieved, and sintered at a temperature of 1000oC for 3 hours, then molded into a catalyst tablet with a hydraulic press. The 9 mm in diameter mold used and has a compression pressure of 90 kg/cm2 with an average weight of 5 grams per catalyst sample. Catalyst pellets were characterized. The density test, PSA, SEM, XRD, XRF, and mechanical strength test using ASTM D4179 standard method were carried out to characterize the pellets. The results of the density analysis test given the data that the variations of the binders from 1 to 5% do not correlate directly with changes in the pellet density. The results of the XRF and XRD test obtained data that the main elements present in the catalyst are K, Ca, Si, and the dominant metal oxides are formed, namely K2O, CaO, SiO2, which in order of mass percentage are the same, but with different mass values. Crystal sizes in the catalyst are different and not uniform. The mechanical strength from the crushing strength test shows that the value of the catalyst strength decreases in line with the addition of the binder, where the catalyst with a binder should have been mechanically stronger than catalyst without binder or less of the binder. This is due to the large compaction pressure in the catalyst formation process which is below the standard so that can not provide sufficient pressure for forming the catalyst pellets, which are needed to form bonds between the constituent particles in the pellets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]