ICETEA 2015 -- Page 46 of 115 -- ISSN 2470-4330 SonicationTechnique on the Manufacturing of Synthetic Zeolites from Bagasse Herry Purnama # , Tri Widayatno # , Emi Erawati # , Wasprad Y. Basuntoro # , Fitriyani A. Putri # # Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia 1 hp269@ums.ac.id Abstract—Indonesia has many sugar industries to fulfill the need of sugar consumption on its huge population and all of the sugar industries use sugarcane as raw materials. In the milling process, the side product bagasse will be generated after the sugar solution (molasses) is separated. The amount of bagasse is relatively in huge number,approximately 30% of the sugarcane crushed.The utilization of bagasse unfortunately has not been exploited economically. Since the bagasse has a high silica content, it is enable to be treated to produce synthetic zeolites.There are some methods to produce synthetic zeolites, for example by hydrothermal process, utilizing microwave, or ultrasonication. Sonication technique has been applied to develop the manufacturing of synthetic zeolites. This method utilizing ultrasonication waves with a frequency of about 20 kHz for mixing of aluminate and silicate solutions to form a homogeneous mixture. The sonication technique has a better performance when compared with the hydrothermal technique. The process is simpler and not too much chemical wastes. This technique is also safer compared with microwave technique. The effect of ultrasound has been investigated for various operational conditions, temperature of 60, 70, and 80 o C combined with 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes of sonication. At this step, the characteristics of synthetic zeolites from bagasse sugarcanehas been tested for crystalline structure by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The next step for characterization will include analyzing of molecular bond using spectroscopic method of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and also the characterization of surface area by using BET surface area analyzer. The manufacturing process of synthetic zeolites from bagasse by using sonication technique has been successfully produced. The optimum conditions to synthesize zeolites were shown by diffraction curve of zeolite crystalline at higher temperature and longer time of sonication. Key words – bagasse, sonication, synthetic zeolytes, ultrasound I. INTRODUCTION Sonication technique applies sound energy to agitate particles in a sample. When the ultrasonic frequencies applied, then the process also being known as ultrasonication. Ultrasound is at the high end range of the spectrum and therefore it produces treble tones. Ultrasound devices operate with frequencies from 20 kHz up to several gigahertz.The other frequencies of waves are infrasound, less than 20 Hz, and theaccousticwhich is in the range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Ultrasound is able to be applied in diverse fields. This method can be used for medical imaging, detection of object, measurement of distance and cleaning purposes. At higher power levels, the application of ultrasound which is called ultrasonic, is useful for changing the chemical properties of substances. In many industries, ultrasound is applied for cleaning and for mixing, and also to accelerate chemical processes. There are many effects of applying ultrasonication, both chemical and physical effects. The chemical effects of ultrasound, or sonochemistry, or sonoluminescence, are concerned with understanding the effect of sonic waves on chemical systems. The chemical effects of ultrasound do not come from a direct interaction with molecular species. There is no direct coupling of the acoustic field with chemical species on a molecular level can account for sonochemistry[1] or sonoluminescence [2]. Instead sonochemistry arises from acoustic cavitation: the formation, growth, and implosive collapse of bubbles in a liquid [3]. In water and most liquids, when the amplitude of the sound wave is low, a continuous transition is occured. Since this amplitude increases, the areas of negative pressure in a rarefaction (expansion) area can become so great, creating the liquid splitting at sites of expansion which is known as cavitation phenomenon. Since the wave front passes by, these newly formed bubbles oscillate as the vapor within the bubble evaporates and collapses in order to maintain a constant vapor pressure. Once the bubble becomes too unstable it collapses and releasing shock waves. It has been reported [4]a physical phenomenon i.e. ultrasonic cavitation is determined by the parameters below: (1).Frequency. On the higher sonic frequencies (MHz), the production of cavitation bubbles becomes more difficult rather than lower frequencies (kHz). In this case, cavitation can be achieved by increasing intensity if the sonic frequency increases, to ensure that the cohesive forces of the liquid media are overcome. (2). Intensity. The intensity of sonication is proportional to the amplitude of vibration of the ultrasonic source. An increment in the amplitude of vibration will lead to an increase in the intensity of vibration and to an increase in the sonochemical effects. A minimum intensity is required to achieve the cavitation. (3).Solvents. The solvent must be chosen carefully to perform sample treatment by sonication. Generally most applications are performed in water although some other less polar liquid i.e. organic solvents can be also used. The cavitation may be inhibited by both solvent viscosity and surface tension. The higher the natural cohesive forces acting within a liquid (e.g., high viscosity and high surface tension) the more difficult it is to