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Friction surfacing finds its application in areas which require joining of dissimilar metals with superior wear property. The current work investigates the solid‐state coating of Alloy 36 over ductile cast iron (SG Iron) by friction surfacing process. The effect of process factors on the actual geometry of the coating was investigated through testing and a desirability‐based technique. Spindle speed, axial force, and table traverse speed were the three most important variables for bonding fidelity. Analysis of variance was used to examine how the input parameters affected the output parameters. Experimental findings are validated using artificial neural networks and response surface methodology which are then used to predict how the system will respond to various operating scenarios. The research demonstrates that speed, rather than force or traverse action, has a more substantial effect on both materials. The response surface methodology statistician approach was utilized to identify the most important factors influencing the process parameters. As a result, the load is determined as the most crucial component that impacts bonding to the substrate. According to the data, the output parameters have the most impact on lowering the bonding geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effects of incorporating pistachio shell powder and a mixture of Aquilaria agallocha Roxb (AAR) resin with epoxy on the mechanical, dynamic mechanical, thermal, and biodegradability properties of an epoxy composite. Filler loadings ranged from 10 to 35% by volume, in 5% increments. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a uniform distribution of the hybrid polymer materials, particularly at 30% natural resin content, enhancing the load-bearing capacity of the composites. The addition of pistachio shell powder and AAR resin significantly improved the flexural modulus and strength of the composites. At a filler volume of 35%, the hybrid polymer exhibited a maximum impact resistance of 2,718 J/m 2 , demonstrating increased energy absorption. Moreover, the hybrid system enhanced the damping factor by up to 30%, suggesting superior dynamic mechanical performance. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that the hybrid composites displayed better thermal stability compared to pure epoxy resin. These findings suggest that the combination of pistachio shell powder and AAR natural resin offers a sustainable approach to reinforcing epoxy-based composites, providing improved mechanical and thermal performance for potential industrial applications., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Small extracellular vesicles (sEV) are endogenous lipid-bound membrane vesicles secreted by both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells into the extracellular environment, performs several biological functions such as cell-cell communication, transfer of proteins, mRNA, and ncRNA to target cells in distant sites. Due to their role in molecular pathogenesis and its potential to deliver biological cargo to target cells, it has become a prominent area of interest in recent research in the field of Neuroscience. However, their role in neurological disorders, like neurodegenerative diseases is more complex and still unaddressed. Thus, this review focuses on the role of sEV in neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases, including their biogenesis, classification, and pathogenesis, with translational advantages and limitations in the area of neurobiology., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declared no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Electrical and electronic equipment like light bulbs, computing systems, gaming systems, DVD players, and drones experiences heat generation during extensive use. The heat energy should be liberated to ensure uninterrupted performance and prevent premature failure of the devices. This study uses an experimental setup of the heat sink, phase change material, silicon carbide nanoparticles, thermocouple, and data acquisition system to control heat generation and increase heat lost to the surroundings in electronic equipment. The silicon carbide nanoparticles are mixed in varying compositions, i.e., 1wt.%, 2wt.%, and 3wt.%, in paraffin wax as the phase change material. The influence of the heat input (15W, 20W, 35W, and 45W) through the plate heater is also studied. The operating temperature of the heat sink was allowed to fluctuate between 45 and 60 °C while experimenting. The fluctuation in the temperature of the heat sink was recorded to monitor and compare the charging, dwell, and discharging periods in the heat sink. It is observed that increasing the percentage composition of silicon carbide nanoparticles in the paraffin wax resulted in increasing the peak temperature and the dwell period of the heat sink. Increasing the heat input above 15W benefited in controlling the duration of the thermal cycle. It is inferred that high heat input is beneficial in enhancing the heating period, while the percentage composition of silicon carbide in the PCM benefits by increasing the heat sink's peak temperature and dwell period. It is concluded that high heat input, i.e., 45W, is beneficial in enhancing the heating period, while the percentage composition of silicon carbide in the PCM benefits by increasing the heat sink's peak temperature and dwell period., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Petroleum fuels are commonly used for automobiles. However, the continuous depletion and exhaust gas emission causes serious problems. So, there is a need for an alternative eco-friendly fuel. Biodiesel is a type of fuel manufactured through a process called transesterification, which involves converting vegetable oils into a usable form. The process parameters of the transesterification process were optimized using the Taguchi method to achieve maximum biodiesel yield. However, the main problem of biodiesel is its high cost which could be reduced by using low-cost feedstock. To address this challenge, biodiesel (BCFAD) is derived from coconut fatty acid distillate (CFAD), a by-product obtained from refining coconut oil. This work uses BCFAD and BCFAD with Alumina nanoparticles as fuels. Alumina nanoparticles in the mass fraction of 25 ppm, 50 ppm, and 100 ppm are dispersed in BCFAD. The investigation results reveal an increase of 6.5% in brake thermal efficiency for BCFAD with 100 ppm nanoparticles when compared to BCFAD. There is a reduction of 29.29% of hydrocarbon and 34% of Carbon monoxide emissions with BCFAD100 in comparison with diesel. However, there is a marginal increase in NOx emission with the increase in nanoparticles. The heat release rate and cylinder pressure of BCFAD100 are comparable to diesel fuel. It was concluded that the utilization of BCFAD with a nanoparticle dispersion of 100 ppm is suitable for direct use as fuel in diesel engines., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The increase in plastic products and disposal poses a severe environmental challenge because of their poor biodegradability and undesirable disposal by landfilling. Recycling is the best possible solution to the environmental challenges implemented by the plastic industry. Pyrolysis is a process that converts waste plastics into pyrolytic oil, and it can be used as fuel in a blended form. The viscosity and lubricity of the LDWP (low-density waste polyethylene) pyrolytic oil were lower than standard diesel. Capparis spinosa methyl ester (CME) is blended and experimented with to overcome the lubricity issue of pyrolytic oil. In this investigation, 5%, 10%, and 15% CME were blended with PD20 (20% LDWP oil + 80% diesel) blend on a volume basis. Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of CME on combustion, performance, and emissions using the combination of CME and PD20 blend tested at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% loading conditions. All three ternary mixtures showed enhanced combustion performance and increased NO x and smoke emissions. Due to better combustion, the efficiency of the blend PCD10 (10% CME + 20% LDWP oil + 70% diesel) was higher than the PD20 blend and significantly closer to diesel. Hence, PCD10 is suggested as an alternative to diesel fuel., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The spray characteristics of a fuel greatly influence the combustion as it affects the formation of an air-fuel mixture, which directly impacts the performance and emissions of the engine. This study investigates the physical injection spray characteristics of biofuels to optimize the engine operating parameters for their effective utilization. For the analysis of the spray characteristics of pure diesel (D100), 80% diesel-20% biodiesel (D80B20), 80% diesel-10% biodiesel-10% pure ethanol (D80B10E10), and 80% diesel-10% biodiesel-10% hydrous ethanol (D80B10HE10) are investigated. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling of a constant volume chamber under non-evaporative conditions is performed to conduct numerical analysis. The chamber pressure of 2 and 2.5 MPa and nozzle injection diameter of 0.126 mm, 0.15 mm, and 0.2 mm are considered to conduct the simulations. The variation in spray penetration length is analyzed and discussed for the injection of different fuel blends at different initial conditions. It is observed from numerical results that the high-density fuel blend D80B20 has a penetration length of 10.695% and 15.805% higher than pure diesel and D80B10HE10 blends, respectively. For pure diesel, with an increase in nozzle diameter from 0.126 mm to 0.15 mm and 0.2 mm, the penetration length is increased by 20% and 32%, respectively, and with an increase in pressure from 2 MPa to 2.5 MPa, penetration length is decreased by 14.62%. From this study, it can be concluded that biofuels like biodiesel and hydrous ethanol can be used with diesel in blended form over pure ethanol. Compared to pure ethanol, hydrous ethanol gives cost benefits and better spray characteristics., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Biodiesel has the potential to serve as a feasible substitute for fossil fuels in many sectors, including transportation and internal combustion engines, without requiring extensive modifications. UsinHemg alternative energy sources, including biodiesel, is necessary to effectively tackle the growing demand predominantly observed in the transportation sector. This review is aimed to examine the technological progress, potential benefits, obstacles, and prospects associated with using biodiesel in India. India exhibits a significant potential for biodiesel production due to the abundance of various biofuel crops within its territory. The information supplied includes recent information from official government reports and literature. Collaborative efforts among all stakeholders in the energy industry can achieve the realization of reducing imports of petroleum-based fuel. However, it is essential to consider several significant elements specific to the Indian context when considering the utilization of biodiesel. The reported findings in this research are expected to shed light on the current and prospects of biodiesel deployment in India., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Diesel fuel reformulation is an attractive method to reduce hazardous smoke emissions because it does not require modifications to the existing engine infrastructure. As the concerns about global warming and air pollution are mounting, high-efficiency diesel engines with low smoke emissions have become more attractive. This study demonstrates that three alcohols, viz. cyclohexanol, polyethylene glycol, and 2-methoxyethanol, can be added to fossil diesel up to 3% by vol. to reduce carcinogenic smoke emissions in a one-cylinder, common rail direct injection (CRDI) diesel engine. The experimental investigations revealed that smoke could be reduced by up to 66.2%, 39.6% and 14% using 3% by vol. addition of cyclohexanol, polyethylene glycol, and 2-methoxyethanol to diesel, respectively, when compared to pure diesel operation. 1% addition by vol. of cyclohexanol and 2-methoxyethanol could reduce NOx and smoke emissions under all load conditions. CO emissions are slightly higher for all alcohol at high load conditions. HC emissions for the test fuels are lower than pure diesel operation at low load conditions, increasing at high loads. These emissions, however, can be reduced by using suitable after-treatment devices., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Numerous countries are investigating alternative fuel sources in response to the escalating issue of energy inadequacy. Using environmentally sustainable biodiesel as a potential alternative to fossil fuels, particularly from waste sources, is a developing prospect. This study aims to examine the feasibility of utilizing industry leather waste as a diesel fuel substitute. Traditional transesterification was used to obtain methyl ester out of leather waste. After processing, 81.93% of methyl ester was produced. Bio-silica (Bio-Si) is used as a fuel additive to enhance combustion and decrease emissions. This work utilized a leather industry waste fat biodiesel (LIWFB), LIWFB blend (B50), LIWFB blend with Bio-Si nanoparticles (B50Bio-Si50, B50Bio-Si75, and B50Bio-Si100 ppm) to analyze the engine outcome parameters at standard operating conditions. Experimental results revealed that adding Bio-Si in the biodiesel blend increased thermal brake efficiency (BTE) but was lower in diesel fuel. The biodiesel blends reduced NOx emissions more than Bio-Si nanoparticle blends. Furthermore, the smoke opacity was reduced by 31.87%, hydrocarbon (HC) emissions were reduced by 34.14%, carbon monoxide (CO) emissions were decreased by 43.97%, and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions were slightly increased by 4.45% for B50Bio-Si100 blend compared to neat diesel. This investigation determined that all the emissions remained lower for all combinations than neat diesel, with a small increase in NOx emissions. Therefore, the LIWFB blend with Bio-Si nanoparticles was a viable diesel fuel alternative in diesel engines., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Biodiesel outperforms diesel in emissions and engine performance. They burn efficiently in diesel engines and are eco-friendly. Since cashew nut shell liquid (CNSO) is waste, commercial biodiesel production from it should be profitable. CNSO is cheap and can reduce cashew processing factory waste. From cashew kernels, CNSL is extracted using various mechanical, thermal, and solvent extraction techniques. This article examines current research into using cashew nutshell liquid biodiesel (CNSLBD) in diesel engines. The work also discusses Indian biodiesel demand, availability, export information, life cycle cost analysis, cost economics of per hectare yield, Indian government initiative of CNSO. This review also evaluates the viability of this fuel as an alternative energy source. CNSLBD is a prospective alternative fuel that has the potential to benefit both the cashew nut industry and the energy industry. In addition to this, the study examines the procedures for extracting CNSO. According to the findings of the study, CNSO is a prospective alternative fuel that has the potential to benefit both the cashew nut industry and the energy industry., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The objective of the present investigation is to enhance the performance of diesel engine using Capparis spinoza fatty acid distillate biodiesel (CFAB100) at various compression ratios. The experiments were carried out at compression ratios of 16.5:1, 17.5:1, 18.5:1, and 19.5:1. It was noted that an increase in compression ratio from 16.5 to 18.5 resulted in better engine characteristics for CFAB100 and reduced at compression ratio 19.5. Brake-specific fuel consumption of CFAB100 decreased from 0.42 to 0.33 kg/kWh with an increase in compression ratio. The brake thermal efficiency of CFAB100 at a compression ratio of 16.5 is 29.64% lower than diesel, whereas it is 11.32% low at a compression ratio of 18.5. The brake thermal efficiency of CFAB100 is 26.03% higher at a compression ratio of 18.5 compared to 16.5. Due to shorter ignition delay and reduced premixed combustion, the net heat release rate of CFAB100 is lower than diesel at all compression ratios. The peak cylinder pressure for diesel is 56.21 bar, and CFAB100 at compression ratios 16.5, 17.5, 18.5, and 19.5 were 52.36, 55.12, 61.02 and 58.25 bar at full load condition. CFAB100, at a compression ratio of 18.5, had the highest nitrogen oxide emissions (2400 ppm). Carbon monoxide, unburnt hydrocarbon, and smoke showed an average reduction of 46.58%, 40.68%, and 54.89%, respectively, when the compression ratio varied between 16.5 and 19.5. At an optimum compression ratio of 18.5, the CFAB100 resulted in improved performance and emission characteristics that can replace diesel to a possible extent., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Beam-column joints are crucial load transmission zones because they face concentrated forces from both the beams and the columns. High shear and axial stresses caused by these concentrated forces in the area of the joint may result in decreased joint strength. This article proposes a new beam-to-column connection developed for precast concrete-resisting frames. Concrete mixtures are enhanced mechanically by adding nano silica as it increases compressive strength, flexural strength, and abrasion resistance. Within the concrete, it creates a solid, gel-like matrix that fills voids and strengthens the whole construction. In this study, three reinforced concrete beam-column joint specimens were cast with fly ash, the other three with nano-silica and fly ash, and one sample with nano-silica and a control mix without admixtures was cast. Specimen cast using fly ash and nano-silica is subjected to cyclic loading after 28 days of curing. A load capacity of 100 kN was imposed on the column during testing. It was observed that a gradual increase in fly ash decreased the compressive and flexural strength of the beam-column joints. This decrease in strength was addressed by adding 2.5% nano-silica. Nano silica acts as a nucleus to bond tightly with cement particles during hydration. The results showed that the flexural strength equivalent to that of a controlled specimen can be achieved by adding nano-silica at 2.5% and fly ash at 60%. The highest loading of 38.1 kN can be applied to the specimen with nano-silica without fly ash. Although a higher axial compression ratio can improve the bearing capacity and initial stiffness, it can also reduce deformation capacity and flexibility., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

In typical manual material handling, the variations in walking pattern are decided by various factors, such as load being handled, frequency of handling, walking surface, etc. Traditional gait analysis protocols commonly evaluate individual factor within specified ranges associated with particular activities or pathologies. However, existing literature underscores the concurrent impact of multiple factors on gait. This study identifies five pivotal factors-walking speed, surface slope, load carried, carrying method, and footwear-as contributors to gait alterations. To address risk factors in manual material handling activities, we propose a unique design-of-experiment-based approach for multi-task gait analysis. Unraveling the relationship between manual handling attributes and human gait holds paramount importance in formulating effective intervention strategies. We optimized the five input factors across a cohort of 15 healthy male participants by employing a face-centered central composite design experimentation. A total of 29 input factor combinations were tested, yielding a comprehensive dataset encompassing 18 kinematic gait parameters (such as cadence, step length etc., measured using inertial measurement system), the isolated impacts of factors, and the interplay of two-factor interactions with corresponding responses. The results illuminate the optimal scenarios of input factors that enhance individual gait performance-these include wearing appropriate footwear, employing a backpack for load carriage, and maintaining a moderate walking pace on a medium slope with minimal load. The study identifies walking speed and load magnitude as primary influencers of gait mechanics, followed by the chosen carrying method. In consequence, the insights gained advocate for the refinement of manual material handling tasks based on the outcomes, effectively mitigating the risk of musculoskeletal disorders by suggesting the interventions for posture correction., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

The depletion of fossil fuel and the concerns for harmful emissions and global warming has instigated researchers to use alternative fuels. Hydrogen (H 2 ) and natural gas (NG) are attractive fuels for internal combustion engines. The dual-fuel combustion strategy is promising to reduce emissions with efficient engine operation. The concern for using NG in this strategy is the lower efficiency at low load conditions and the emission of exhaust gases like carbon monoxide and unburnt hydrocarbon. Mixing fuel with a wide flammability limit and a faster burning rate with NG is an effective method to compensate for the limitations of using NG alone. Hydrogen (H 2 ) is the best fuel added with NG to cover NG limitations. This study investigates the in-cylinder combustion phenomenon of reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) engines using hydrogen-added NG as a low-reactive fuel (H 2 addition to NG on a 5% energy basis) and diesel as a highly reactive fuel. The numerical study was done on a 2.44 L heavy-duty engine using CONVERGE CFD code. Three low, mid, and high load conditions were analyzed in six stages by varying the diesel injection timing from -11 to -21 O after top dead centre (ATDC). The H 2 addition to NG had shown deficient harmful emissions generation like carbon monoxide (CO) and unburnt hydrocarbon with marginal NOx generation. At low load conditions, the maximum imep was achieved at the advanced injection timing of -21 O ATDC, but with the increase in load, the optimum timing was retarded. The diesel injection timing varied the optimum performance of the engine for these three load conditions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In recent trends, the usage of synthetic materials has been reduced by introducing natural fibres for lightweight applications. In this study, Madar (Calotropis gigantea) fibre is selected for the reinforcement phase (40%), and the epoxy polymer is blended with bran filler selected as a matrix material. To calculate hybrid composite mechanical characteristics, five composite laminates with different fibre/filler weight ratios were made. The results show that when the weight ratio of madar fibre increased, the superior mechanical properties were observed in the composite laminate sample (A), such as tensile strength (20.85 MPa), flexural strength (24.14 MPa), impact energy absorption (23 J) compared with an increasing the weight ratio of bran nanofiller to this composite material. At the same time, increasing bran nanofillers can improve thermal stability up to 445 °C of degrading temperature. To analyse the surface interaction between the madar fibres, bran nanofillers, and epoxy matrix by conducting the scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis before subjecting to the mechanical test and also to identify the failure mode by conducting the SEM test after the laminates are broken during the mechanical tests of the hybrid composite., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Bioactive substances such as phenolic compounds, antioxidants, and antibacterial agents are found in natural fibres. In this study, banana fibre was extracted from the trunks of banana plants. Antibacterial activity, FTIR, XRD, and SEM analysis were performed to characterize the banana cellulose fibre, and also raw and alkali-treated banana fibre composite was fabricated with an epoxy matrix. Results of the antibacterial analysis indicate that this banana cellulose fibre strongly impedes bacterial growth with elevated inhibitory zones. The primary peaks observed at 1170 cm -1 and 1426 cm -1 by FTIR analysis correspond to C-O stretching, O-H bending, aliphatic ether, secondary alcohol, and carboxylic acid. The morphological analysis reveals the fibre quality, and the EDX analysis confirms the elements present in the banana cellulose fibre. The XRD results demonstrated a more significant proportion (76.8%) of the amorphous region. This study indicates that banana cellulose fibre could be a promising source of antimicrobial compounds. In addition, the mechanical properties of alkali-treated banana fibre composite were preferable to raw fibre composite by an average of 3% for this banana fibre composite. As a result, this composite can be used to manufacture automobile interior components, as it can reduce the sanitizing periods of interior components during winter months., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Natural fibre is renewable and extensively utilized for structural and medicinal applications. The current research concentrates on surface modification for fibre enhancement using an alkaline treatment technique to extract raw fibre from banyan (Ficus benghalensis) aerial root bark. Using a 10% NaOH solution, attempts have been made to improve the crystalline, surface, thermal, physical, and chemical properties of banyan aerial root fibre (BAF). Five samples of BAF were produced by soaking the unprocessed fibre in an alkaline solution for variable amounts of time. On the surface of the treated BAF, a higher concentration of cellulose could be seen. The X-Ray Diffraction test revealed that the crystallinity index improved by 52%, with a crystalline dimension of 51.2 nm. It was observed that the crystalline content is increased in treated Banyan aerial root fiber due to this alkali treatment. The significance of natural fibre characterization is also briefly discussed, and this summary will serve as a resource for future studies on natural fibre composites by other researchers., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Thermal losses through weak building envelope is responsible for global current energy crises. Application of artificial intelligence and drone setups in green buildings can help in providing the sustainable solution the world is striving for years. The contemporary research incorporates a novel concept of measuring the wearing thermal resistances in the building envelope with the aid of a drone system. The above procedure conducts a throughout building analysis by considering three prime environmental parameters such as wind speed (WS), relative humidity (RH) and dry bulb temperature (DBT) with the aid of drone heat mapping procedure. The novelty of the study can be interpreted by the fact that prior researches have never explored the building envelope through a combination of drone and climatic conditions as variables in building areas difficult to access, thereby providing an easier, risk free, cost effective and efficient reading. Validation of the formula is authenticated by employing artificial intelligence-based software's which are applied for data prediction and optimization. Artificial models are established to validate the variables for each output from the specified number of climatic inputs. The pareto-optimal conditions attained after analysis are 44.90% RH, 12.61 °C DBT and 5.20 km/h WS. The variables and thermal resistance were validated with response surface methodology method, thereby presenting lowest error rate and comprehensive R 2 value, which are 0.547 and 0.97, respectively. Henceforth, employing drone-based technology in estimating building envelope discrepancies with the novel formula, yields consistent and effective assessment for development of green building, simultaneously reducing time and cost of the experimentation., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Uncontrolled emissions, massive price increases, and other factors encourage searching for a suitable diesel engine fuel alternative. In its processed form, vegetable oil biodiesel is an appealing green alternative fuel for compression ignition engines. Vegetable oil esters have qualities comparable to those of standard diesel fuel. As a result, biodiesel may be utilized to run a diesel engine without any further alterations. This article analyses the potential of Phoenix sylvestris oil, which may be found in forest belts across the globe, as a viable feedstock for biodiesel extraction. Phoenix sylvestris oil is found to be abundant in different forest belts worldwide. The free fatty acid must first be transformed into esters using catalytic acid esterification before proceeding to alkaline catalytic esterification. The molar ratio (6:1), catalyst concentration (1 wt%), reaction temperature (60 °C), and reaction time (2 h) have all been optimized for biodiesel extraction. Biodiesel produced had characteristics that were similar to standard biodiesel specifications. The biodiesel yield from Phoenix sylvestris oil was 92.3% under optimum conditions. The experimental results revealed that the Phoenix sylvestris oil biodiesel performed better than neat Phoenix sylvestris oil and its blends. Phoenix sylvestris oil blend produced better brake thermal efficiency with lower smoke, hydrocarbon, and CO emissions. The biodiesel produced from non-edible Phoenix sylvestris oil has the potential to be employed as a viable alternative to diesel fuel., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The current study aims to attain a higher yield of biodiesel from Bauhinia tree seed wastes through process optimization using response surface methodology (RSM) and assess its compatibility in the diesel engine blended with water and Di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP). The Bauhinia parviflora biodiesel (BPB) transesterification originated using a fixed quantity of catalyst, and the transesterification process parameters such as oil-molar ratio (OMR), process temperature (PT), and reaction time (RT) were optimized. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)analysis were applied to characterize and quantify the BPB, and ASTM standards were followed to measure the properties. The prepared BPB (30%) was blended with 10% water and 2% BTBP to enhance the performance and emission characteristics of the BPB in the diesel engine. The optimization result implies that the higher yield of BPB (91.4%) was attained for OMR of 9.2:1, PT of 76 °C, and RT of 67 min. The FTIR report indicates that the carbon-based components are pretty good in the prepared BPB. The GC-MS report indicates that the fatty acids are converted into corresponding methyl esters, and the measured fuel properties are within the prescribed limits. The diesel engine's performance is effectively improved for the BPB blended with water and DTBP. The proposed fuel's overall improvement in hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, smoke, and oxides of nitrogen emissions is 27.2%, 34.9%, 16.7%, and 11.2%, respectively., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The work aims to analyse an ejector refrigeration system powered with solar energy through serially connected collectors to lower greenhouse gases. The collectors chosen for the work are Scheffler and parabolic collectors with an area of 2.5 m 2 and 6 m 2 , respectively. The steam generated by the collectors is stored temporarily in a 15-l storage tank. The thermic fluid transfers heat between the steam storage tank and refrigerant, and thus the generator temperature increases. This design was intended as an alternate for a traditional 3.5 kW room air conditioner with substantially lower energy consumption. This modified system consumed lesser energy input of about 20-30% than conventional air conditioners. Further, for the same specification, the ejector system has consumed less power of about 2.475 kW than the traditional refrigeration system., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Water is one of the important gifts to mankind. In recent days the accessibility of pharmaceuticals in the environment is progressively a worldwide concern. The significant wellspring of these contaminations in water assets is drugs for human use or veterinary medications. Intermediates, active metabolites and raw materials present in water from pharmaceutical industry waste because of incomplete sewage treatment systems. Various pharmaceutical components such as analgesic/antipyretics such as Ibuprofen (57.9-104 ng/L), Diclofenac (17-129 ng/L), antibiotics such as Sulfamethoxazole (28.7-124.5 ng/L), Sulfamethazine (29.2-83.9 ng/L), Azithromycin (10-68 ng/L), psychiatric drug such as Carbamazepine (9.3-92.4 ng/L), stimulants such as caffeine greater than 55 ng/L, antidepressants, antihypertensive, contraceptives etc., are present in water resources and have been detected in mg/L to μg/L range. The synergic effects and ecotoxicological hazard assessment must be developed. Studies demonstrate that these drugs might cause morphological, metabolic and sex alterations on sea-going species, and interruption of biodegradation activities. Hazard analysis and assessments are in progress. However, the conventional effluent treatment methods are not sufficient to remove API (active pharmaceutical ingredients) from this water effectively. There is necessitate for continuous monitoring of the pharmaceutical compounds in aquatic ecosystem to save the environment and living form of lives from health hazards. This work highlights the hazards, environmental assessment and the mitigation measures of pharmaceutical pollutants., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This work examines the effect of ultrasound irradiation (UI) on biodiesel properties and transesterification parameters. Methanol content, reaction time, reaction temperature, and catalyst concentration are varied, and the optimum condition for maximum possible yield was held constant for both processes. Biodiesel obtained from non-edible oils is the most promising alternative fuel for conventional diesel fuel. In this study, sterculia foetida seed oil was used for biodiesel production. Sterculia foetida oil was transesterified to lower its FFA using UI and compared with the conventional process. Both heating processes were optimized to yield a maximum of 94.3% at a six molar ratio, 50 °C, (water temp), 1% wt of catalyst (KOH), and 75 min reaction time. Transesterification by UI reduced the total reaction time to 4 min compared to 75 min at the conventional process. Further UI influenced the properties of biodiesel (SOBD) from SO. UI lowered viscosity by 7.3% and density by 5.5% and facilitated using oxygen content of SOBD., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The objective of the work is to analyse and to improve the efficiency of solar-powered ejector refrigeration system integrated with flat-plate collector and Scheffler concentrator. The Scheffler concentrator of 2.7 m 2 and flat-plate collector of 5 m 2 collecting area are coupled with the storage tank of 15 l capacity. The developed system was designed for a potential replacement of conventional 1-ton room air conditioner with much reduced electrical energy consumption. The system was built based on two key subsystems namely 'Scheffler concentrator-based vapour system' and 'ejector-based cooling system'. The pilot effort showed promising results with the probability of energy-saving potential as near 70 to 80% over conventional air conditioners.

This work analyses the performance and emission characteristics of biofuelled compression ignition (C.I) engine with the implementation of an antioxidant. Using the transesterification process with sodium hydroxide as a catalyst, the beef tallow methyl ester (BTME) was obtained from the beef tallow oil. Poor physical properties of biodiesel (beef tallow oil (BTO)) namely high viscosity and density cause atomization problems leading to higher smoke, hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions. The purpose of this work is to enhance the performance aspects, to limit smoke emissions from BTO operation and to examine the possibility of direct use of neat BTO in CI engine. This research paves a way of investing the impact of binary blends of BHA and BTO on the research engine. The experiments were conducted on a single-cylinder four-stroke C.I engine using the following fuel compositions: 20% of BTME mixed with 80% diesel (B20), 1000 ppm mono-phenolic antioxidant (butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)) mixed with the blends of B20 (B20 + BHA), and 100% diesel. Based on the experimental results, it was found that the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) increases by 1.8% and the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) decreases by 2.5% for the fuel blend B20 + BHA when compared with that for B20 fuel blend. Compared with the B20 blend, the blend B20 + BHA emits 12.2% lesser nitrogen oxide due to breaking chain reactions, scavenging the initiating radicals and reducing the concentration of reactive radicals.

The main objective of this study is to lower the greenhouse gases by developing and optimizing a solar flat plate collector. The rifled tube is integrated into the collector to increase the thermal heat transfer thereby improving its performance. Two flat plate collectors, one with in-housed longitudinal fins and another without fins of 0.5 m 2 collector area, have been intended and fabricated with provisions for K-type thermocouples to examine the temperature variations inside the collector for different working fluids. This current study reveals using CuO and Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles in varying weight fractions in incremental order to study the effect of weight fractions on the efficiency of the collector. The simulation was done using computational fluid dynamics both for the finned and without finned tube collectors separately and the outcome of the results for the collector outlet temperatures is compared with the experimental one and results show a valuable outcome for the intended collectors. Initially, the test was conducted with pure distilled water as working fluid and further nanoparticles were opted and doped inside the collector side for varying weight fractions of 0.2% and 0.4% and their results are compared. The experimental results showed an improved heat transfer was pragmatic in the collector side for using nanoparticles. Mixing the nanofluids exhibited superior efficiency on the collector side. The results showed after successful trials of experimentation, doping of CuO nanoparticles by varying weight fractions of 0.2% and 0.4%, augmentation of the collector (unfinned) efficiency is 2.1% and 4.05%, and similarly for finned tube collector, it is 3.02% and 5.5% for same weight fractions. In order to improve the thermal efficiency of collector, CuO is replaced by Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles; for dissimilar weight fractions, the efficiency is enhanced nearly by 3.7% and 6.54% for unfinned tube collector, and for the finned tube, the collector is 4.8% and 7.8% respectively, compared with the base working fluid (water). Experimentation of the collectors with finned tube type achieved a superior efficiency compared with that of unfinned tube collectors which is proved to be higher when used for nanofluids to that of the base working fluid water.

The present work is aimed to analyze the performance and emission characteristics of mahua biodiesel-fueled diesel engine with copper oxide nanoparticle at various particle sizes (10 and 20 nm) and the results compared with conventional diesel fuel (BD). Experiments were conducted in a four-stroke, single-cylinder, constant speed, and naturally aspirated research diesel engine with an eddy current dynamometer. Conventional transesterification process is carried out to convert the raw mahua oil into mahua oil biodiesel (BD100). Copper oxide (CuO) was chosen as a nanoparticle; the mass fraction of 100 ppm and the particle sizes of 10 and 20 nm were blended with mahua oil methyl ester using an ultrasonicator, and the physicochemical properties were measured. The physicochemical properties of BD100 and nanoparticle-included BD100 are at par with EN14214 limits. Brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) of BD100 is higher than that of diesel, and brake thermal efficiency (BTE) is lower than that of diesel (D100). The inclusion of 10-nm particle size of CuO nanoparticle in BD100 improves the BSFC and BTE by 1.3 and 0.7%, respectively, when compared with BD100. The CuO nanoparticle inclusion at 20-nm nanoparticle in biodiesel further improves the performance parameters than those at 10-nm nanoparticle. Further, the BD100 promotes a lower level of smoke emissions, carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrocarbon (HC) and with a prominent increase in oxides of nitrogen (NO x ) emissions. The inclusion of 10-nm particle size of CuO nanoparticle in BD100 reduces the NO x , HC, CO, and smoke emission by 3.9, 5.6, 4.9, and 2.8%, respectively, at peak load condition when compared with BD100. The addition of CuO nanoparticle at 20-nm nanoparticle in biodiesel further reduces the NO x , HC, CO, and smoke emissions.

This work investigates the experimental study to examine the operation characteristics of a neat neem oil methyl ester (BD100) along with silver oxide nano-particles as a metal-based additive in various mass fractions. Silver oxide nano-particle is mixed into 100% of BD100 at 5 and 10 ppm. The experimental investigation on diesel engine reveals that the addition of silver oxide nano-particles to BD100 resulted in enhancement of brake thermal efficiency (BTE) with a reduction in brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC). The tested emission parameters such as CO, HC, NOx, and smoke were decreased by 12.22, 10.89, 4.24, and 6.61% for BD100+ Ag 2 O (5 ppm) and 16.47, 14.21, 6.66, and 8.34% for BD100 respectively when compared to BD100. Overall, improvement in ignition characteristics of the engine was finer by adding 5 and 10 ppm of silver oxide nano-particle to BD100 on account of the enhanced surface area to volume ratio.

The current work focuses on the experimental investigation to analyze the combustion and emission characteristics of a direct injection diesel engine fueled with neat biodiesel (BD100) and different proportions of cyclohexanol blends as a fuel additive in various volume fractions. Cyclohexanol is dispersed into a neat biodiesel in a volume fraction of 10, 20, and 30 vol%. The biodiesel is produced from neem oil by the conventional transesterification process. The experimental results revealed that with the increased cyclohexanol fraction, the combustion was found smooth. The addition of cyclohexanol has a positive influence on various physical and chemical properties of neat biodiesel. The in-cylinder pressure is comparatively low for diesel followed by cyclohexanol and biodiesel blends when compared with neat biodiesel. This is due to shorter ignition delay period. The heat-release rate of neat biodiesel is the highest among all fuels. The overall HC emission of BD70COH30 is 12.19% lower than BD100 and 16.34% lower than diesel. The overall CO 2 emission of BD70COH30 is 13.91% higher than BD100 and 19.5% higher than diesel. The overall NO x emission of BD70COH30 is 5.31% lower than BD100 at all load engine operations. The presence of 10, 20, and 30% of cyclohexanol in biodiesel decreased smoke emissions as compared with neat biodiesel and diesel. The overall smoke emission of BD70COH30 is 19.23% lower than BD100 and 25.51% lower than diesel. The overall CO emission of cyclohexanol blended with biodiesel by 30 vol% (BD70COH30) is 17% lower than neat biodiesel and 21.8% lower than diesel. Based on the outcome of this study, neem oil biodiesel and cyclohexanol blends can be employed as a potential alternative fuel for existing unmodified diesel engines owing to its lesser emission characteristics.

In this study, the effect of blending pentanol to biodiesel derived from mahua oil on emissions and performance pattern of a diesel engine under exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) mode was examined and compared with diesel. The purpose of this study is to improve the feasibility of employing biofuels as a potential alternative in an unmodified diesel engine. Two pentanol-biodiesel blends denoted as MOBD90P10 and MOBD80P20 which matches to 10 and 20 vol% of pentanol in biodiesel, respectively, were used as fuel in research engine at 10 and 20% EGR rates. Pentanol is chosen as a higher alcohol owing to its improved in-built properties than the other first-generation alcohols such as ethanol or methanol. Experimental results show that the pentanol and biodiesel blends (MOBD90P10 and MOBD80P20) have slightly higher brake thermal efficiency (0.2-0.4%) and lower brake-specific fuel consumption (0.6 to 1.1%) than that of neat biodiesel (MOBD100) at all engine loads. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission and smoke emission are reduced by 3.3-3.9 and 5.1-6.4% for pentanol and biodiesel blends compared to neat biodiesel. Introduction of pentanol to biodiesel reduces the unburned hydrocarbon (2.1-3.6%) and carbon monoxide emissions (3.1-4.2%) considerably. In addition, at 20% EGR rate, smoke, NO X emissions, and BTE drop by 7.8, 5.1, and 4.4% respectively. However, CO, HC emissions, and BSFC increased by 2.1, 2.8, and 3.8%, respectively, when compared to 0% EGR rate.

Biodiesels derived from the mahua seeds are established as a promising alternative for the diesel fuel owing to its non-edible nature and improved properties. TiO 2 nanoparticle in powder form is added to neat mahua oil biodiesel (BD100) to examine its effect on emission characteristics. TiO 2 nanoparticle is chosen as an additive owing to its catalytic effect, higher surface energy, and larger surface to volume ratio. TiO 2 nanoparticle with an average size of 60 nm was synthesized by sol-gel route. TiO 2 nanoparticles are added with mahua biodiesel (BD100) at 100 and 200 ppm. Mahua oil biodiesel doped with 100 and 200 ppm of TiO 2 nanoparticles are referred as BD100T100 and BD100T200. A constant speed diesel engine is employed for the experimental trail. Engine is fueled with diesel, BD100, BD100T100, and BD100T200, respectively. Experimental result confirmed that the modified fuels (BD100T200 and BD100T100) showed a significant reduction in all the emissions. Further, the addition of TiO 2 nanoparticle (200 ppm) to mahua biodiesel gave respective reduction of 9.3, 5.8, 6.6, and 2.7% in carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, nitrogen oxide, and smoke emissions when compared to neat mahua biodiesel.

The present work is intended to investigate the emission characteristics of neat cashew nut shell methyl ester (CNSME100) by adding pentanol at two different proportions and compared with the baseline diesel. CNSME100 is prepared by the conventional transesterification process. CNSME100 is chosen due to its non-edible nature. Pentanol is chosen as an additive because of its higher inbuilt oxygen content and surface to volume ratio which reduces the drawbacks of neat CNSME100. Emission characteristics were carried out in single cylinder naturally aspirated CI engine fuelled with neat cashew nut shell methyl ester (CNSME), cashew nut shell methyl ester and pentanol by 10% volume (CNSME90P10), cashew nut shell methyl ester and pentanol by 20% volume (CNSME80P20), and diesel. This work also aims to investigate the feasibility of operating an engine fuelled with neat methyl ester and alcohol blends. Experimental results showed that by blending higher alcohol to neat cashew nut shell methyl ester reduces the emissions significantly. It is also found that the emission from neat methyl ester and pentanol blends is lesser than diesel at all loads.