The effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles and aluminium oxide nanoparticles in the performance and emissions of canola biodiesel in diesel engine

Background and aim of the study:Use of commercial products containing nanoparticles formulated from zinc oxide (ZnO) and aluminium oxide (Al2O-3) has increased significantly. These nanoparticles are widely used as ingredient in cosmetics, and also in food packaging industry although their toxicity status is yet to be studied. Here, we aimed to explore the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and aluminium oxide nanoparticles (ANPs) in human HT29 colon cancer cell line.Methods:In this study, ZnO-NPs were synthesized by chemical method and ANPs synthesized by sol-gel method and were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, X ray diffraction and Transmittance electron microscopy. The effects of ZnO-NPs and ANPs was determined by cell viability, membrane integrity and colony formation potentials.Results:ZnO-NPs and ANPs inhibit HT29, colon cancer cell proliferation in a dose dependent manner, and affect the membrane potentials and also prevent the colony formation. Conclusions: The results suggest that ZnO NPs are found to be more effective than ANPs in reducing colon cancer cell proliferation. (www.actabiomedica.it)

The energy resources from the fossil fuels are decreasing day by day. Rather fossil fuel is costly, it creates environmental problems by producing and NOx in the environment. Now it is argent to find a solution. The solution can be renewable energy. In this paper the effort was to find the utility of biodiesels in the conventional diesel engine. This biofuel or biodiesel is extracted from Soybean methyl ester (SME). We compared the basic performance characteristics diesel, SME 20 and SME 100 in unmodified diesel engine. This experiment will be helpful to find out the utility of SME type biodiesel in conventional diesel engine so that the uses of fossil fuels can be reduced in quick rental power plants and other uses. We can use biodiesel as substitute in an economic tariff and efficient way. The energy resources from the fossil fuels are decreasing day by day. Rather fossil fuel is costly, it creates environmental problems by producing and NOx in the environment. Now it is argent to find a solution. The solution can be renewable energy. In this paper the effort was to find the utility of biodiesels in the conventional diesel engine. This biofuel or biodiesel is extracted from Soybean methyl ester (SME). We compared the basic performance characteristics diesel, SME 20 and SME 100 in unmodified diesel engine. This experiment will be helpful to find out the utility of SME type biodiesel in conventional diesel engine so that the uses of fossil fuels can be reduced in quick rental power plants and other uses. We can use biodiesel as substitute in an economic tariff and efficient way.

Biodiesel is a promising alternative fuel that represents a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy source. Due to its complete carbon cycle, it reduces dependence on fossil fuels and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. However, the use of biodiesel in diesel engines is associated with several challenges, including an increase in nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions, incompatibility with cold climates, and lower calorific value. By using nanoparticles as fuel additives, there is a potential to improve the properties of biodiesel and address its shortcomings. In this work, the characteristics of biodiesel derived from waste cooking oil have been enhanced using nanoparticle additives, which result in the usage of a higher percentage of the biodiesel in diesel engines. Nanoparticles of cerium oxide, silicon dioxide, and aluminum oxide have been investigated in different concentrations as biodiesel additives. Two mathematical models are introduced in this work and solved by LINGO optimization software (version 18); the first one seeks to predict the characteristics of biodiesel with nanoparticles in any blend of diesel–biodiesel–nanoparticles, while the second model aims to maximize the biodiesel ratio in a biodiesel–diesel–nanoparticles blend. The application of the combined two models aids in the selection of the optimal nanomaterial that improves the properties of biodiesel and permits an increase in the biodiesel mixing ratio in the fuel. The results show that the best nanoparticle type is cerium oxide at a concentration of 100 ppm, and the optimal mixing ratio of biodiesel blended with CeO2 nanoparticles is 24.892%. An unmodified diesel engine is operated and evaluated with the optimum blend (24.892% biodiesel + 75.108% petrol diesel + 100 ppm CeO2 nanoparticles). It is found that significant improvements in engine performance and emissions compared with the conventional diesel are achieved. The reductions in brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC), smoke opacity, and carbon monoxide emissions are 24%, 52%, and 30%, respectively.

Increase of petroleum diesel usage and its environmental pollution necessitate the study of alternate fuel production. Vegetable oils are the viable alternate form of non-polluted, renewable fuel to diesel engines. In this work, the non-edible oil, neem (Azadirachta indica) was used to produce biodiesel by a two step transesterification process. The fuel properties of the biodiesel thus produced were determined by standard methods. It is further tested in a single cylinder diesel engine by mixing with petroleum diesel in various percentages. The brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and specific fuel consumption (SFC) of the engine running with biodiesel blends (10–50%) were compared with the petroleum diesel. The results have shown that the performance of the diesel engine was similar as that of normal diesel and thus the use of biodiesel in diesel engine is viable.

Prognostic of diesel engine emissions and performance based on an intelligent technique for nanoparticle additives

Strength tests of a dental amalgam material were conducted. Zinc oxide and aluminium oxide nanoparticles were used as fillers to enhance the hardness and other mechanical properties of dental amalgam material. The zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by using a sol–gel technique, the samples of which were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and Raman spectroscopy and then mixed with the material and compacted into cylindrical-shaped pellets for green density, compressibility and Vickers hardness evaluation. Increment of 183 % in hardness was observed with average Vickers hardness of 0.95 GPa by using 250 °C zinc oxide as nanofiller. On the other hand, the Al2O3 nanoparticles filled composite observed 1.12 GPa of average Vickers hardness with 229 % of increment as compared to without the fillers. All in all, that the application of Al2O3 nanoparticles as filler result in improved hardness. This work offers the dentistry industry a potential contender in the market place.

Hepato-renal toxicity of oral sub-chronic exposure to aluminum oxide and/or zinc oxide nanoparticles in rats

Combustion characteristics, engine performances and emissions of waste edible oil biodiesel in diesel engine

Clays are ubiquitous earth minerals that are used globally in various fields such as in the ceramic, pharmaceutical, construction, chemical and drilling industries. Various industrial processes involve clay dispersal in liquids that form colloids of which the settling velocity is critical, necessitating enhanced or delayed sedimentation. It has been reported that the presence of some nanoparticles such as aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and zinc oxide (ZnO) can speed up clay sedimentation. It is therefore the primary objective in this study to determine and compare the settling velocities of a clay composition of Montmorillonite, Kaolinite and Illite in the presence of Al2O3 and ZnO nanoparticles, and to find out the effect of crude oil on the rate of deposition. The experiments were conducted using distilled water, brine of 30g/l salinity and ethanol as dispersing mediums for the clay particles and nanoparticles. Experimental results show that Al2O3 nanoparticles settle particles of clay at a faster velocity of about 2.80x10-4m/s and 3.08x10-4m/s in the absence and presence of crude oil respectively. ZnO nanoparticles settle clayey particles at about 2.65x10-4m/s and 2.91x10-4m/s in the absence and presence of crude oil respectively. It is speculated that Al2O3 nanoparticles which initiated a higher settling velocity occurred as a result of a strong attractive force between the nanoparticles and clay minerals. It was also observed that the presence of crude oil in the liquid columns increased the settling velocities of the clays.

ABSTRACTIn order to improve its transesterification process, performance and emission parameters, nanoparticles are mixed to neat biodiesel. This work aims to investigate the cause of alumina nanoparticles on transesterification, emission and performance of coconut biodiesel. Two fuel samples are prepared by transesterification process with and without adding alumina nanoparticles. Experimental results revealed that the nitrogen oxide emission and smoke emission are reduced by 6% and 8% for coconut biodiesel by transesterification with adding alumina nanoparticles (CBD100A) when compared to coconut biodiesel by transesterification without alumina nanoparticles (CBD100). In addition, the introduction of alumina nanoparticles in coconut biodiesel during transesterification reduces the unburned hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide emissions considerably. Experimental results show that the CBD100A reduces fuel consumption which increases brake thermal efficiency.

Nowadays, increasing energy demand and environmental and air pollution issues have spread the use of alternative fuels such as biodiesel in diesel engines. While the advantages of biodiesel that are comparable to petroleum-based diesel fuels and low unburned HC, carbon monoxide and smoke (soot) emissions make the use of this fuel environmentally significant; high NOx emissions are still a problem to be solved. The formation of decreased smoke reducing radiative heat transfer from combustion chamber in biodiesel engines and increase in formation of NOx due to rise in flame temperature are among the reasons reported for high NOx in the literature. In this study, in a diesel engine using biodiesel, soot emissions produced by petroleum diesel fuel were reduced to biodiesel level by using metallic additive (Ba), and NOx emissions were compared. When the amount of Ba in the fuel was increased, there was a significant decrease in the smoke emissions, but in this case, NOx emissions decreased slightly, while they were expected to increase. When NOx emissions of diesel and biodiesel were compared for the same or similar smoke emissions, it was seen that high NOx emissions were achieved with biodiesel. As a result, although Ba additive reduced smoke emissions, it was seen that its effect on NOx formation was not very clear.

Biodiesel is promoted as an appropriate alternative fuel for use in compression ignition (CI) engines as it is non-toxic, biodegradable, and sulphur-free and does not require any change in current engines design. The key objective of this experimental study is to evaluate the best operational parameters of engine referring to performance and emissions of Jatropha biodiesel powered CI engine by employing response surface methodology (RSM). In order to achieve maximum brake power (BP), brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) and unburnt hydrocarbon (HC) emissions the optimization model is used. Effects of different factors such as fuel injection pressure (FIP), engine compression ratio (CR), and load on thermal performance have been studied in a single cylinder diesel engine. Experiments design was based on L20 orthogonal array Central composite design (CCD) method. RSM was employed to test the suitability of biodiesel in diesel engines and models were developed by using experimental results. Based on the optimization, the optimum engine parameters found were 18 CR, 180 bar FIP and 8.11 kg engine load. Under these settings, the optimum responses were found as 2.21 kW, 28.24%, 25.3 ppm and 174.6 ppm for BP, BTE, HC, and NOx, respectively. Meanwhile, R 2 (coefficient of determination) values were found as 99.96%, 99.93%, 98.5%, 99.14%, and 99.78%, for BP, BTE, net heat release rate (NHRR), HC, and NOx, respectively.

Diesel engine can be run with renewable biodiesel which has the potential to supplement the receding supply of crude oil. Use of biodiesel in diesel engines can also reduce harmful emissions of CO, unburned HC and particulates. As biodiesel possess similar physiochemical properties to diesel, most diesel engines can be run with biodiesel with minimum modifications. However, the viscosity and calorific values of biodiesel are higher and lower, respectively than diesel which will affect the performance of diesel engine run with biodiesel. Use of 100% biodiesel in diesel engines shows inferior performance of having lower power and torque. Guide vanes into the intake runner to improve the in-cylinder airflow characteristic to break down higher viscous biodiesel is the aim of this research. This is expected to improve the air-fuel mixing resulting better combustion. The experimental results of biodiesel run in a diesel-gen set showed that break specific fuel consumption reduced in between 0.90 and 1.77% with vane numbers of 3 to 5. In regards to emissions, CO reduced in the range 0.05 and 8.78%, CO2 reduced in the range of 0.82 and 1.75%, and HC in the range of 1.19 and 7.49% with vane numbers of 3 to 5. Interestingly, most improvements were found with the vane numbers of 4.

Use of biodiesel in diesel engine is becoming popular due to its advantages such as eco friendly, green fuel, low cost and most importantly it is a renewable fuel. In the recent scenario of increased diesel fuel cost and environmental issues, the use of biodiesel in internal combustion engines in transport sector provides energy security along with environmental protection. The chemically treated vegetable oil called biodiesel can be produced from either edible or non edible oils through commonly known transesterification process. In this investigation, biodiesel produced from non edible jatropha oil has been used in a single cylinder water cooled stationary diesel engine to assess the performance and emission characteristics of the engine. The performance characteristics of biodiesel are similar to that of diesel fuel operation and emission levels are lower than the diesel fuel. The use of low cost biodiesel in diesel engines leads to same power output with lower emission levels which in turn leads to a global revolution in possessing a renewable fuel at stake and also assures energy security and environmental cleanliness.

This study applied the environmentally-friendly fuel oil blended with biodiesel to combustion in diesel engines to solve waste tire contamination, save fuel oil and reduce energy consumption, and thus fossil fuel replacing oil product is feasible. Also, blended environmentally-friendly fuel oil is proposed to improve application of biodiesel in diesel engine. Relevant feasibility tests of diesel engine were conducted to ensure the blended environmentally-friendly diesel can be used for combustion in various commercial oil engines. This solution can control combustion efficacy, ensure cleanness and stability of emissions, maintain the best combustion efficiency, reduce pollution emission, fulfill energy efficiency and emission reduction carbon, and prevent pollution of existing wastes.