Synthesis of Methyl Tertiary Glycerol Ether (MTGE) from glycerol and Tertiary Butyl Alcohol (TBA)

Glycerol is a by-product of the biodiesel industry which can be further processed into a product that has economic value. One of them is becoming a fuel additive. Glycerol was reacted with TBA (Tertiary Butyl Alcohol) to produce MTGE (Methyl Tertiary Glycerol Ethers) by using HZSM-5 as catalyst. The experiment was conducted within 2 hours, a pressure of 1atm, using batch reactor. This research was studied of effect temperature, catalyst concentration, and reactant molar ratio to conversion of glycerol. The product of reaction was analyzed by GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry). The product was contained like as Butane, 1- (2-methoxyethoxy) -CAS or 1-Butoxy-2-methoxyethane or 2, 5-dioxanonane amounted to 29.98% and 19.74% and Propane, 1- (1, 1-dimethylethoxy) -2-methyl (CAS) or 1-tert-Buthoxy-2-methylpropane by 6.66% and 1, 86% for the ratio of 4: 1 and 1: 1. The results of the experiment have shown the effect of single variable effect on the conversion of glycerol as follows: temperature (X1), reactant molar ratio (X3), and catalyst concentration (X2). The interaction variable affected in etherification reaction followed temperature-molar ratio (X1X3), temperature-catalyst concentration-molar ratio (X1X2X3), catalyst concentration-molar ratio (X2X3), and temperature-catalyst concentration (X1X2).