In this study, the synthesis of nitrobenzene was carried out using sulfated silica catalyst. The study delved into H2SO4/SiO2 as a solid acid catalyst and the effect of its weight variation, as well as the use of a microwave batch reactor in the synthesis of nitrobenzene. SiO2 was prepared using the sol-gel method from TEOS precursor. The formed gel was then refluxed with methanol and calcined at a temperature of 600 °C. SiO2 with a 200-mesh size was impregnated with 98 % H2SO4 by mixing for 1 h. The resulting 33 % (w/w) H2SO4/SiO2 catalyst was separated by centrifugation, dried, and calcined at 600 °C. The catalyst was then used as a solid acid catalyst in the synthesis of nitrobenzene. The weights of catalyst used were 0.5; 1; and 1.5 grams. The synthesis of nitrobenzene was carried out with a 1:3 ratio of benzene to nitric acid in a microwave batch reactor at 60 °C for 5 h. The resulting nitrobenzene liquid was analyzed using GC-MS to determine the selectivity of the catalyst. Likewise, the use of a microwave batch reactor was found to be appropriate and successful for the synthesis of nitrobenzene. The thermal energy produced by the microwave batch reactor was efficient enough to be used for the nitration reaction. Reactivity and selectivity tests demonstrated that 1 g of H2SO4/SiO2 could generate an average benzene conversion of 40.33 %.

1. Introduction
2. Experimental
    2.1. Materials
    2.2. Catalyst synthesis and nitrobenzene production
    2.3. Conversion benzene into nitrobenzene
    2.4. Catalyst and nitrobenzen peroduct characterization
3. Result and Discussion
    3.1. FTIR analysis of H2SO4/SiO2 catalysts
    3.2. XRD analysis of H2SO4/SiO2 catalysts
    3.3. SAA analysis
    3.4. Conversion of benzene into nitrobenzene
4. Conclusion
Acknowledgement

• Khairul Amri(Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia)
• Aan Sabilladin(Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia)
• Karna Wijaya(Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia) Corresponding author
• Remi Ayu Pratika(Study Program of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Palangka Raya, Palangka Raya 73111, Indonesia)
• Ari Sudarmanto(Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia)
• Hilda Ismail(Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia)
• Budhijanto(Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia)
• Mega F ia L estari(Department of Chemical Analysis, Akademi Komunitas Industri Manufaktur Bantaeng, Bantaeng 92461, Indonesia)
• Won-Chun Oh(Department of Advanced Materials and Engineering, Hanseo University, Seosan 31962, Republic of Korea)