This review explores the potential of pillared bentonite materials as solid acid catalysts for synthesizing diethyl ether, a promising renewable energy source. Diethyl ether offers numerous environmental benefits over fossil fuels, such as lower emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon oxides (COx) gases and enhanced fuel properties, like high volatility and low flash point. Generally, the synthesis of diethyl ether employs homogeneous acid catalysts, which pose environmental impacts and operational challenges. This review discusses bentonite, a naturally occurring alumina silicate, as a heterogeneous acid catalyst due to its significant cation exchange capacity, porosity, and ability to undergo modifications such as pillarization. Pillarization involves intercalating polyhydroxy cations into the bentonite structure, enhancing surface area, acidity, and thermal stability. Despite the potential advantages, challenges remain in optimizing the yield and selectivity of diethyl ether production using pillared bentonite. The review highlights the need for further research using various metal oxides in the pillarization process to enhance surface properties and acidity characteristics, thereby improving the catalytic performance of bentonite for the synthesis of diethyl ether. This development could lead to more efficient, environmentally friendly synthesis processes, aligning with sustainable energy goals.

1. Introduction
2. Structure and Physico-Chemical Propertiesof Bentonite
3. The Bentonite Modification Using the PillarizationMethod
4. Pillared Bentonite: Enhancing Surface Propertiesand Acidity
5. The Green Synthesis of Pillared Bentonite
6. The Potency of Pillared Bentonite on DiethylEther Production
7. Challenges and Future Perspectives
8. Conclusion
Acknowledgement
References
Author Information

• Puji Wahyuningsih(Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Samudra, Aceh 24354, Indonesia)
• Karna Wijaya(Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia) Corresponding author
• Aulia Sukma Hutama(Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia)
• Aldino Javier Saviola(Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia)
• Indra Purnama(Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Universitas Lancang Kuning, Pekanbaru 28261, Indonesia)
• Won-Chun Oh(Department of Advanced Materials and Engineering, Hanseo University, Seosan 31962, Republic of Korea)
• Muhammad Aziz(Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 1538505, Japan)