Development of Green Nickel-Based Zeolite Catalysts for Citronella Oil Conversion to Isopulegol

Derivatization of citronellol, citronellal and geraniol into fine chemicals such as isopulegol, hydroxyl citronellal, menthol, geranial esters, esters citronellal and others will escalate the added value of citronella oil. Some products derived from essential oils are widely used for food and fuel additives, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and perfumes. The synthesis of isopulegol from citronellal was studied on nickel-based zeolite catalysts. The citronella oilwas obtained by vacuum fractional distillation of lemongrass oil. The catalysts were prepared by supporting nickel on natural zeolite from Bogor (ZAB) by impregnation method with variations thenickel loading amount. Catalytic reactions were carried out at 200 oC under 2 Mpaof H2 pressure for 3 h and it was also varied of catalyst weight amount. The products distribution was found to depend on the catalyst weight. The Ni/ZAB 20% of metal loading catalyst (5% weight) was highly active and selective towards isopulegol (100% conversion and 57% selectivity).