High Oxygen Content Research Articles

Exploring oxygen migration and capacitive mechanisms: Crafting oxygen-enriched activated carbon fiber from low softening point pitch

A green pitch fiber from coal tar distillation residue, with a softening point of 190 °C, was used to make activated carbon fiber through an in-situ oxygen-doped method. Oxygen-rich pitch-based activated carbon fibers (OPACFs) were successfully created with a three-stage stabilization process using this low softening point pitch fiber. The OPACFs exhibit a moderate pore size distribution and high surface oxygen content (20.83 at%). The migration and transformation of oxygen during this process were studied. Due to the formation of stable oxygen-containing functional groups (CO), the resulting material shows excellent electrochemical performance. It achieved a specific capacitance of 334 F/g at 0.5 A/g and maintained good rate capacity (73.7 %, 0.5–50 A/g) in a 6 M KOH electrolyte. The assembled supercapacitor displayed exceptional cycle stability, retaining 91.4 % capacitance at 1 A/g after 10,000 cycles. Further investigation revealed that the specific capacitance includes both surface-controlled and diffusion-controlled capacitance, with oxygen doping significantly enhancing the latter.

High performance of PrMnO3 perovskite catalysts for low-temperature soot oxidation

In the field of heterogeneous catalysis for diesel vehicle exhaust, designing low-cost catalysts with high efficiency and low-temperature catalytic oxidation to reduce the ignition temperature of soot remains a significant challenge. In this study, a series of praseodymium manganese perovskites (PrMnO3) were synthesized using a solution combustion method that regulated the molar ratio of glycine to nitrate (φ). Notably, when φ = 1, the prepared catalyst (PMO-1) exhibited a multistage pore structure and large specific surface area, demonstrating excellent catalytic oxidation performance for soot (T10 = 280 °C, T50 = 377 °C, TOF=16.2 × 10-4 s−1, SCO₂ > 99 %) and NO (maximum NO conversion rate of 80 %). During soot combustion in a NO+O2 reaction atmosphere, the strong NO oxidation capacity of the catalyst provides sufficient NO2 as an oxidant for soot combustion, thereby further enhancing its oxidation performance (T50 = 360 °C). This study concludes that the excellent low-temperature catalytic oxidation performance of the PrMnO3 catalyst is attributed to the large specific surface area provided by its multistage pore structure and the extensive dispersion of active sites, which enhance the contact efficiency between soot particles and active sites. Additionally, based on multiple characterization results such as XPS, TOF calculations, and Soot-TPR, the PMO-1 catalyst exhibits a high content of lattice oxygen and efficient lattice oxygen migration. These properties further supply active oxygen for the NOx-assisted soot oxidation mechanism. This study offers a valuable, simple, and cost-effective strategy for designing perovskite catalysts and efficiently removing PM particles.

Co-pyrolysis of pretreated cotton stalk and low-density polyethylene: Evolved products and pyrolysis mechanism analysis

The preparation of bio-oil from cotton stalks and agricultural residue films using co-pyrolysis technology can achieve resource recovery and energy conversion, which has important research value and significance. In this study, cotton stalks were subjected to different chemical pretreatments using NaOH, HCl, and H2O solutions to understand their structural changes and pyrolysis characteristics. In addition, the lower H/C ratio of cotton stalks resulted in higher oxygen content in the pyrolysis oil, which limited its efficient and clean utilization. Therefore, the characteristics and pyrolysis kinetics of the pyrolysis products of pretreated cotton stalks and LDPE (low-density polyethylene) were studied. The results showed that the ash content of alkali pretreatment cotton stalks decreased by 1.24 %, and the dense structure of cotton stalks significantly relaxed. NaOH pretreatment effectively removed hemicellulose sugars and cracked them. During the co-pyrolysis process, when the ratio of NaOH-CS/LDPE was 50/50, the synergistic effect was more pronounced, and the oil yield increased by 2 % compared to the theoretical value. The oxygen content of CO and CO2 in the pyrolysis gas was higher than the theoretical value, at 10.4 % and 14.1 % respectively. The synergistic effect of bio-oil on hydrocarbons was the most significant, reaching 18.9 %. More hydrogen and less oxygen migrated into the co-pyrolysis oil, resulting in an increase in hydrocarbons and a decrease in oxygen-containing compounds, and improving the quality of bio-oil. Results from electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) indicated that adding LDPE might raise the quantity of stable free radicals. The evolution mechanism of functional groups of NaOH-CS and LDPE co-pyrolysis behavior was analyzed by Fourier in-situ infrared spectrometry (FTIR), and it was found that C–O–C, C=O, and O–H decreased due to dehydroxylation, decarboxylation, decarbonylation, and demethoxy reactions with the increase of temperature, indicating that there was a synergistic effect between NaOH-CS and LDPE co-pyrolysis. The pyrolysis kinetics of NaOH-CS, LDPE and their blends were determined by the model-free method. The introduction of LDPE can reduce the activation energy of NaOH -CS pyrolysis alone, and the 3D diffusion (D3) model is suitable for their blends.

Hydration performance of OWC pastes incorporating GO with various oxygen contents and sizes

This paper explores the reinforcement and toughening of oil well cement (OWC) by incorporating various oxygen content and size of graphene oxides (GO) at 50 °C, and then explores the mechanism of GO in OWC. Hydration heat evolution of OWC paste was tested using isothermal calorimetry. The hydration products and microstructure of OWC paste were examined using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, mercury intrusion porosimetry and scanning electron microscopy. Results suggest that the dispersion performance of GO in Ca(OH)2 solution (CH) enhanced by increasing of oxygen content and enlarging of size in GO. Higher oxygen content and larger size of GO result in lower fluidity and shorter thickening time of OWC paste. The hydration reaction of OWC paste accelerated by incorporating GO with larger size. A more densely packed microstructure and enhanced mechanical properties in GO-bearing OWC pastes are achieved, particularly in early hydration, which can be attributed to the formation of C–S–H with a comb-like structure and denser aggregated calcium hydroxide by incorporating of GO. The increased in oxygen content and enlargement in size of GO further enhanced this effect. Incorporating GO with higher oxygen content and larger size led to further improvements in the strength performance of OWC hardened paste.

Design of a double-layered material as a long-acting moisturizing hydrogel-elastomer and its application in the field protection of elephant ivories excavated from the Sanxingdui Ruins.

The sudden change in the environment from a dark, low-oxygen, low-temperature, high-humidity underground stable environment to an environment with much-improved temperature and humidity, a high oxygen content, enhanced light exposure, and increased harmful organisms has greatly affected the stability of the ivory unearthed from the Sanxingdui site. Therefore, the implementation of an effective emergency protection strategy for ivory excavated at Sanxingdui is imperative and urgently needed. However, the current gauze technique used at many archaeological sites suffers from short timescales, poor transparency of the material, and susceptibility to reverse osmosis of the ivory. Therefore, in this study, a transparent poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid) (P(AM-AA)) hydrogel-poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) elastomer bilayer was designed for the effective protection of excavated ivory. In this system, a hydrophobic PDMS elastomer was constructed on the surface of the hydrogel by the introduction of a silane coupling agent to inhibit the loss of water from the hydrogel to the external environment, thus prolonging the preservation of ivory by the protective material. The covalent interface between the hydrogel and the elastomer allowed the double-layer composite to exhibit excellent interfacial bonding. In addition, the double-layer material demonstrated a high mechanical strength of 1.2 MPa and a water binding ratio of ∼31%, which allowed it to form strong hydrogen bonds with the silanol structure. When the hydrogel was placed in an air environment (temperature: 25 °C; relative humidity: 65% RH), the water-retention rate of the double-layer material was still more than 60% after 5 days, thus the double-layer material showed excellent performance. Meanwhile, the double-layer material had a transmittance of more than 90% and exhibited a high degree of transparency, which makes it possible to promptly observe the changes occurring on the surface of the ivory. The combination of the aforementioned properties makes the bilayer a promising material for moisturizing and protecting excavated ivory in situ. Based on these properties, we used the prepared P(AM-AA)/PDMS double-layer material directly for wrapping the K8 ivory with the highest water content at Sanxingdui. The weight retention rate of the ivory was around 70% after 50 days of placement (temperature: 25 °C; relative humidity: 60% RH), the macroscopic morphology did not change significantly and the mechanical properties of the wrapped ivory were basically unchanged, which indicated that the double-layer material has an excellent on-site protection effect on the ivory excavated from Sanxingdui. This work provides new ideas and methods for the temporary conservation of wet heritage.

On the Influence of Engine Compression Ratio on Diesel Engine Performance and Emission Fueled with Biodiesel Extracted from Waste Cooking Oil

Despite the extensive research on biodiesels, further investigation is warranted on the impact of compression ratios on emissions and engine performance. This study addresses this gap by evaluating the effects of increasing the engine’s compression ratio on engine performance metrics—brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC), power, torque, and exhaust gas temperature—and emissions—unburnt hydrocarbons (HCs), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and oxygen (O2)—when fueled with a 20% blend of waste cooking oil biodiesel (WCB20) and petroleum diesel (PD) under various operating conditions. The viscosity of the prepared fuels was measured at 25 °C and 40 °C. Experiments were conducted on a single-cylinder diesel engine under wide-open throttle conditions at three different speeds (1400 rpm, 2000 rpm, and 2600 rpm) and two compression ratios (16:1 and 18:1). The results revealed that at a lower compression ratio, both WCB20 and petroleum diesel exhibited reduced BSFC compared to higher compression ratios. However, increasing the compression ratio from 16:1 to 18:1 significantly decreased HC emissions but increased CO2 and NOx emissions. Engine power increased with engine speed for both fuels and compression ratios, with WCB20 initially producing less power than diesel but surpassing it at higher compression ratios. WCB20 demonstrated improved combustion quality with lower unburnt hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide emissions due to its higher oxygen content, promoting complete combustion. This study provides critical insights into optimizing engine performance and emission characteristics by manipulating compression ratios and utilizing biodiesel blends, paving the way for more efficient and environmentally friendly diesel engine operations.

Aged polystyrene microplastics exposure affects apoptosis via inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in early life of zebrafish

In recent years, the toxic effects of microplastics (MPs) on aquatic organisms have been increasingly recognized. However, the developmental toxicity and underlying mechanisms of photoaged MPs at environmental concentrations remain unclear. Therefore, the photodegradation of pristine polystyrene (P-PS) under UV irradiation was used to investigate, as well as the developmental toxicity and underlying mechanisms of zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to P-PS and aged polystyrene (A-PS) at environmentally relevant concentrations (0.1–100 μg/L). Mortality, heart rate, body length, and tail coiling frequency of zebrafish larvae were the developmental toxicity endpoints. A-PS had increased crystallinity, the introduction of new functional groups, and higher oxygen content after UV-photoaging. The toxicity results showed that exposure to A-PS resulted in more adverse developmental toxicity than exposure to P-PS. Exposure to A-PS induced oxidative damage, as evidenced by elevated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage, and led to decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and causes the release of cytochrome c (cyt c) from the mitochondria. The caspase-3/-9 activation signaling pathways may cause developmental toxicity via mitochondrial apoptosis. Significant changes in the expression of genes were further explored linking with oxidative stress, mitochondria dysfunctions and apoptosis pathways following A-PS exposure. These findings underscore the importance of addressing the environmental applications of aged MPs and call for further research to mitigate their potential risks on aquatic ecosystems and human health.

Biomass-tar-derived oxygen-enriched porous carbon as a high-performance carbon electrode material for double electric layer and zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitor

Carbon-based capacitor electrodes have the advantages of high capacitance value, superior recyclability, and inexpensive raw materials, which fuel the application of capacitors in large-scale energy storage. Biomass tar is a hazardous waste that can be recycled as a low-cost carbon electrode precursor for capacitors, due to its retaining biomass-based heteroatom. In this study, hierarchically porous carbon with cross-linked structure was fabricated by using a nano-Al2O3 template combined with the KOH activation technique, in which the γ-Al2O3 has a size of only 10 nm with high specific surface area, thus optimizing the pore structure of the carbon material. The resulting optimal material, BTC-0.2-2-800, contains abundant pore structure and extremely high oxygen content, delivers low resistance and excellent rate performance with high specific capacitance of 292.1 F g−1 and 221.7 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and 20 A g−1, respectively, in double electric layer supercapacitors (EDLCs). Besides, no significant capacity degradation after 10,000 charging and discharging cycles at 10 A g−1 was found. The two-electrode device prepared using Na2SO4 electrolyte achieves a high energy density of 43.18 Wh kg−1 at the power density of 1000 W kg−1, which can light up a 2 V LED lamp. Moreover, Zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitor (ZIHSC) fabricated with BTC-0.2-2-800 carbon electrode accounts for the energy densities of 69.82 Wh kg−1 and 49.39 Wh kg−1 at the power densities of 40 W kg−1 and 400 W kg−1, respectively. This study reveals the great potential of biomass-tar-derived carbon as a high-performance electrode material, which may provide an opportunities for the resource utilization of hazardous wastes.

Effects of rotational speed of the classifying wheel during jet milling on magnetic properties and thermal stability of sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets

Sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets with different grain sizes are prepared by adjusting rotational speed of the classifying wheel during the jet milling process. The microstructures of the magnets, the element contents of the magnets, the relationship between powder particle size and grain size and the magnetic properties of the magnets are studied by X-ray diffracton (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy (OM), electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and permanent magnet tester. The effect of grain size on thermal stability is characterized by the temperature coefficient of coercivity from room temperature to working temperature and the irreversible magnetic flux loss of the magnet at high temperature. The results show that the particle size of the alloy powder decreases with the increase of the rotational speed of the classifying wheel. When the alloy powder is formed and sintered, it is found that the grain size of the prepared magnet decreases with the decrease of the particle size of the alloy powder. The finer the grain size of the magnet, the clearer the grain boundary. As the grain size of the magnet decreases, the coercivity of the magnet increases, the remanence of the magnet decreases slowly and the thermal stability of the magnet becomes better. For the magnet with a rotational speed of the classifying wheel of 4900 r/min, the average grain size of the magnet is 4.70 μm, the coercivity (Hcj) is 15.47 kOe, and the remanence (Br) is14.09 kGs. At a temperature of 80 °C, the coercivity temperature coefficient of the magnet reaches −0.745 %/°C, and the irreversible loss of magnetic flux hirr is 16.49 %. In addition, the magnet prepared by the tail material produced a large number of voids and pores due to the high oxygen content. Tail material is not good enough in terms of magnetic property as well as thermal stability.

Nickel and cobalt incorporated mesoporous HZSM-5 catalysts for biofuel production from bio-oil model compounds

Bio-oil obtained through the gasification or pyrolysis of biomass is a renewable energy source with the potential to be used in motor vehicles. However, when the properties of bio-oil are compared to crude oil, bio-oil is observed to have high oxygen content and acidity. The aim of this study is to enhance the physical properties of bio-oil and produce new alternative fuels to crude oil. For this purpose, nickel and cobalt-incorporated mesoporous HZSM-5 catalysts have been synthesized. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption–desorption, Scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive spectroscopy, Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis. In the study, formic acid, furfural, and hydroxypropanone were used as model components. To enhance catalyst activity, nickel was loaded onto the HZSM-5 catalyst. However, during biofuel production, a significant amount of coke was formed as a by-product. Therefore, cobalt was impregnated to reduce coke formation. In the activity test studies, a conversion in the range of 77–84% was achieved with HZSM-5 catalysts. Nickel addition increased the paraffin and olefin content in the biofuel along with bio-oil conversion. The maximum paraffin selectivity (97%) was provided with the 5Ni@HZSM-5 catalyst. However, the highest biofuel selectivity (77.5%) with the minimum coke formation (4%) was observed with the 5Co-5Ni@HZSM-5. In the study, the regeneration and long-term catalytic activity were also investigated, and the results showed that 5Co-5Ni@HZSM is an attractive catalyst for biofuel production from bio-oil.

Interactions between Iron Minerals and Dissolved Organic Matter Derived from Microplastics Inhibited the Ferrihydrite Transformation as Revealed at the Molecular Scale.

Microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter (MP-DOM) is an emerging carbon source in the environment. Interactions between MP-DOM and iron minerals alter the transformation of ferrihydrite (Fh) as well as the distribution and fate of MP-DOM. However, these interactions and their effects on both two components are not fully elucidated. In this study, we selected three types of MP-DOM as model substances and utilized Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy to characterize the structural features of DOMs and DOM-mineral complexes at the molecular and atomic levels. Our results suggest that carboxyl and hydroxyl groups in MP-DOM increased the Fe-O bond length by 0.02-0.03 Å through interacting with Fe atoms in the first shell, thereby inhibiting the transformation of Fh to hematite (Hm). The most significant inhibition of Fh transformation was found in PS-DOM, followed by PBAT-DOM and PE-DOM. MP-DOM components, such as phenolic compounds and condensed polycyclic aromatics (MW > 360 Da) with high oxygen content and high unsaturation, exhibited stronger mineral adsorption affinity. These findings provide a profound theoretical basis for accurately predicting the behavior and fate of iron minerals as well as MP-DOM in complex natural environments.

Oxygen‐Rich Porous Organic Polymer for Thermal Energy Storage

Oxygen atoms have been widely used in porous organic polymers, which has attracted much attention from researchers. Herein, porous organic polymer with high oxygen content is synthesized with oxygen‐rich monomer as construction unit and anhydrous aluminum chloride as catalyst; then phase‐change materials (PCMs) composites are prepared by self‐adsorption method. The pore properties of the oxygen‐rich porous organic polymer are characterized by nitrogen absorption and desorption method. The properties of the PCM composites are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. The results show that the oxygen‐rich porous organic polymer has high Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area (465 m2 g−1) and excellent thermal stability. The PCM composites possess high encapsulation rate (50.6 wt%) and latent heat (124.7 kJ g−1). After several thermal cycles, the thermal properties of all PCM composites are almost unchanged, and no leakage phenomenon is found. It can be seen that oxygen‐rich porous polymers have potential applications in PCM adsorption and thermal energy storage.

The Fate of Fluorine Post Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Destruction during the Thermal Treatment of Biosolids: A Thermodynamic Study

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of fluorinated synthetic chemicals that are highly recalcitrant, toxic, and bio-accumulative and have been detected in biosolids worldwide, posing potential risks to humans and the environment. Recent studies suggest that the organic C-F bond in PFAS can be destructed and potentially mineralised into inorganic fluorides during thermal treatment. This study focuses on thermodynamic equilibrium investigations and the fate of fluorine compounds post-PFAS destruction during biosolid thermal treatment. The results indicate that gas-phase fluorine compounds are mainly hydrogen fluoride (HF) and alkali fluorides, whereas solid-phase fluorine compounds include alkaline earth fluorides and their spinels. High moisture and oxygen content in the volatiles increased the concentration of HF in the gas phase. However, adding minerals reduced the emission of HF in the gas phase significantly and enhanced the capture of fluorine as CaF2 spinel in the solid phase. This study also investigates the effect of feedstock composition on the fate of fluorine. High ash content and low volatile matter in the feedstock reduced HF gas emissions and increased fluorine capture in the solid product. The findings of this work are useful in designing thermal systems with optimised operating conditions for minimising the release of fluorinated species during the thermal treatment of PFAS-containing biosolids.

Low-oxygen, uniform, and dense Mo10Nb alloys obtained by combining in situ deoxygenation and mechanical alloying

A high oxygen content, poor uniformity and low density are difficult issues for Mo10Nb alloys prepared by powder metallurgy. In this study, Mo10Nb sintered billets are fabricated by nanocarbon addition and mechanical alloying. The results show that nanocarbon can remarkably reduce the O content of the Mo10Nb sintered billets with a slight increase in the C content. Low-oxygen, uniform, and dense Mo10Nb alloys can be obtained by combining in situ nanocarbon deoxygenation and mechanical alloying. Abrupt changes in stress appear in the stress–strain curves of the Mo10Nb alloy prepared from mixed powder, and the addition of nanocarbon can delay the first stress mutation. The stress changes are mainly caused by the unalloyed Nb containing a high oxygen content. However, the stress change disappears in the stress–strain curve of the Mo10Nb alloy with a low oxygen content, good uniformity and high density.

Surface topography and corrosion resistance of AISI 630 stainless steel after finish turning under different cooling methods

AISI 630 stainless steel (SS) is widely used for medical devices. This paper describes the effects of dry, flood and minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) machining conditions on the surface topography and corrosion resistance (CR) of AISI 630 SS after finish turning. Small areas of valleys and large areas of peaks were observed on the surfaces with minimum surface roughness (SRmin) after dry machining at the feed rate (f) of 0.1 mm/rev and at the f = 0.14 mm/rev using the MQL method. Only small areas of peaks were observed after flood machining at the f = 0.1 mm/rev. Regardless of cooling methods, regularly distributed deep valleys and high peaks were observed on the surfaces with maximum surface roughness (SRmax) machined at the f = 0.35 mm/rev. Surfaces of the samples with SRmin and SRmax under flood machining and with SRmax under MQL machining had high oxygen content in the range of ∼ (20−30) %wt. during 7–72 days of the sample storage in SBF. Such an oxygen content is observed on the machined surfaces for which maximum peak height Sp parameters were in the range of ∼ (10–16) μm and maximum valley height Sv – ∼ (8–10) μm. Compared to SRmin, high ion diffusion was observed on surfaces with SRmax. This means that surfaces with regular deep valleys and high peaks provide high ion mobility between them. In addition, compared to dry and MQL machining, higher resistivity was obtained for the samples under flood machining. Depending on the industrial application requirements, the passivity and CR of AISI 630 SS can be modulated by selecting machining conditions and surface topography. It has been established that in order to achieve favorable CR of the AISI 630 SS surface after finish turning, the flood method is recommended.

Molecular dynamics simulation on crystal morphology of NH4ClO4.

Ammonium perchlorate (NH4ClO4, abbreviated as AP) has the advantages of high oxygen content, high density, and good compatibility, and has significant application prospects in the field of energetic materials. The crystal morphology has a great influence on the properties and sensibility of energetic materials, and a single experimental means is difficult in exploring the crystals; therefore, the crystal morphology of AP is investigated using molecular dynamics simulation complemented with experiments, to theoretically analyze the differences in AP crystal habit and the interactions between solvent molecules and the main growing crystal surfaces of AP. The results show that AP crystal is mainly composed of five independent crystal surfaces (0 0 1), (0 1 0), (1 0 0), (1 0 1), and (1 0 -1) in vacuum using the BFDH laws, with (0 0 1) surface being the main growth crystal surface. In contrast, in H2O solvent, the (1 0 1) and (1 0 -1) surfaces disappear, and the AP mainly consists of (0 0 1), (0 1 0), and (1 0 0) surfaces with a rectangular shape. The crystal morphology obtained from theoretical prediction is in good agreement with that obtained from experimental culture. This paper can provide a new idea for the cultivation and preparation of AP large crystals, and promote the application of AP crystals in energetic materials. The crystal morphologies of AP in vacuum and H2O solvent under Dreiding force field were predicted based on attachment energy model by using molecular dynamics method in Materials Studio 2019 software. The entire molecular dynamics simulation was carried out under the NTV system, the temperature control method was selected as Anderson, and the system temperature was set to 298 K. The simulation time was set to 40 ps, the step size was set to 1 fs, and the data were outputted every 5000 steps.

Investigation on combustion and emission characteristics of diesel polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers blend fuels with exhaust gas recirculation and double injection strategy

As a kind of renewable and high oxygen content fuel, polyoxymethylene dimethyl ether (PODE) can be added in diesel to realize energy saving and emissions reduction. To evaluate the combustion and emission characteristics of a diesel engine fueled with diesel and diesel/PODE mixtures, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and main-pilot injection strategies with various injection timings were applied. PODE was blended with diesel by volume to form mixtures which were marked as D100 (pure diesel), D90P10 (90% diesel + 10% PODE), and D80P20 (80% diesel + 20% PODE). The results showed that the ignition delay (ID) and combustion duration (CD) of D80P20 were the shortest because of the highest cetane number (CN) and high oxygen content of PODE, indicating more concentrated heat release. At low and medium loads, D80P20 achieved the highest peak heat release ratio (PHRR) and peak combustion temperature (PCT) among the three fuels, and it was 14.3% and 3.6% higher than those of D100. PODE blending with diesel can significantly reduce particulate matter (PM) and D80P20 has the lowest PM emissions at all loads. Compared with D100, both PM and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions of PODE blends decreased simultaneously with 20% EGR at all loads. With the increase of pilot-main interval, the ID and CD of all test fuels increased, while the NOx and PM emissions decreased. The conclusions of the present research provide a state of the application in light-duty engines fueled with diesel/PODE blends in future work.

Novel biofuel blends for diesel engines: Optimizing engine performance and emissions with C. cohnii microalgae biodiesel and algae-derived renewable diesel blends

Fossil diesel is a significant global fuel; however, environmental concerns and resource scarcity necessitate alternative fuels. Third-generation microalgae biodiesel (MB), despite its carbon neutrality, leads to higher oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions and poor engine performance. Renewable diesel (RD), also known as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), could reduce these issues. A quasi-dimensional multi-zone combustion model is employed in this study to look into how different fuel blends of diesel, C. cohnii MB, and algae-derived RD affect the performance, combustion, and emissions of a compression ignition (CI) engine. The study uses a 2000 rpm engine arrangement with different engine loads, and validates the computational analysis with an experimental test engine arrangement. The study aims to explore the potential of sustainable biofuels in CI engines. D70MB30 (70 vol% diesel, and 30 vol% MB) fuel blend leads to a higher ignition delay period (IDP) while lowering peak cylinder pressure (PCP) and peak heat release rate (PHRR) compared to D100; however, when RD is added to diesel-MB fuel blends, it reduces IDP and increases PCP and PHRR. Brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) for the D70MB30 blend rises by 5.28–8.9 %, while brake thermal efficiency (BTE) reduces by 0.98–4.27 %. However, RD in MB blends reduces BSFC by 1.57–3.41 % and marginally enhances BTE, resulting in greater fuel economy and efficiency. D70MB30 fuel blend results in higher specific carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions while lowering particulate matter (PM) and smoke emissions compared to neat diesel due to its high intrinsic oxygen content. In contrast, RD with the MB blend reduces specific CO2 and NOx emissions; however, it increases PM and smoke emissions due to the NOx-PM trade-off. The optimum results occur with a full load and D70MB15RD15 (70 vol% diesel, 15 vol% MB, and 15 vol% RD) fuel blend. Compared to the D70MB30 blend, D70MB15RD15 reduces BSFC, specific CO2, and NOx by 2.15 %, ∼1%, and 8.37 %, respectively, while increasing PM emissions at 100 % load.

Insight into the influence of part in cattails on electrochemical performance of the porous carbon for Zn-ion storage

Recently, biomass-derived porous carbon has gained popularity as a cathode material for Zn-ion hybrid supercapacitor (ZIHSs) due to its unique structure and heteroatoms. However, the understanding of how biomass part affects resulting carbon structure and ZIHSs performance is limited. This study utilizes cattail leaves (CLs), cattail wools (CWs), and cattail stems (CSs) as carbon sources, with each impacting carbon microstructure, morphology, specific surface area (SSA), and oxygen content. CLs-based porous carbon (CLPC) exhibits a distinct hollow tube structure with thinner walls, high oxygen content, and a large SSA, which are crucial for enhanced electrochemical performance. The aqueous Zn//CLPC ZIHSs demonstrate remarkable energy density (190 Wh kg−1), specific capacity (253 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g), and cycle life (91% capacity retention over 10,000 cycles at 10 A/g). Electrochemical processes are studied through various techniques, shedding light on the relationship between cattail parts, carbon structure, and ZIHSs performance, aiding in more efficient biomass utilization.

Improving the compressive properties of laser powder bed fusion Ti-6Al-4V containing oxygen and nitrogen by adding trace TiC+TiB nanoparticles

The oxygen and nitrogen interstitial solutes strongly resist the motion of dislocations in titanium alloys, which accounts for the improvement of strength and the loss of ductility. In this study, compressive properties of L-PBF Ti64 with high oxygen and nitrogen content are improved by adding trace nanoparticles (0.1 wt% TiC + TiB) and CALPHAD-based design of heat treatments for the first time. The strength and plasticity of Ti64 increase by 8.8 % and 29.2 % respectively with the addition of nanoparticles before heat treatment. A good combination between strength and plasticity is obtained by solution treatment at 1040 °C and subsequently air-cooling (1040-AC) with the addition of nanoparticles. Compared to the L-PBF Ti64, the plasticity of TiC + TiB/Ti64 increases by 100 % without losing compressive strength after 1040-AC. A bi-modal structure including hard primary α phase and ductile secondary fine α lamellae, was obtained after 1040-AC, which is beneficial for its ductility and work-hardening. The addition of nanoparticles promotes the refinement and uniform distribution of the secondary α lamellae during cooling, which results in high strength and the distribution of α/α boundary being close to the theoretical random frequencies. Therefore, the TiC + TiB/Ti64 after 1040-AC exhibits excellent compressive strength and plasticity.