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Raphanus sativus L. is a potential source of raw material for biodiesel fuel due to the high oil content in its grains. In Brazil, this species is cultivated in the low rainfall off-season, which limits the productivity of the crop. The present study investigated the effects of water restriction on the physiological and biochemical responses, production components, and oil quality of R. sativus at different development stages. The treatments consisted of 100% water replacement (control), 66%, and 33% of field capacity during the phenological stages of vegetative growth, flowering, and grain filling. We evaluated characteristics of water relations, gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, chloroplast pigment, proline, and sugar content. The production components and chemical properties of the oil were also determined at the end of the harvest cycle. Drought tolerance of R. sativus was found to be mediated primarily during the vegetative growth stage by changes in photosynthetic metabolism, stability of photochemical efficiency, increased proline concentrations, and maintenance of tissue hydration. Grain filling was most sensitive to water limitation and showed a reduction in yield and oil content. However, the chemical composition of the oil was not altered by the water deficit. Our data suggest that R. sativus is a drought-tolerant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have seen an increase in research on biodiesel, an environmentally benign and renewable fuel alternative for traditional fossil fuels. Biodiesel might become more cost-effective and competitive with diesel if a solid heterogeneous catalyst is used in its production. One way to make biodiesel more affordable and competitive with diesel is to employ a solid heterogeneous catalyst in its manufacturing. Based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), the researchers in this study proved their hypothesis that iron oxide core–shell nanoparticles were generated during the green synthesis of iron-based nanoparticles (FeNPs) from Camellia Sinensis leaves. The fabrication of spherical iron nanoparticles was successfully confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). As a heterogeneous catalyst, the synthesised catalyst has shown potential in facilitating the conversion of algae oil into biodiesel. With the optimal parameters (0.5 weight percent catalytic load, 1:6 oil—methanol ratio, 60 °C reaction temperature, and 1 h and 30 min reaction duration), a 93.33% yield was attained. This may be due to its acid–base property, chemical stability, stronger metal support interaction. Furthermore, the catalyst was employed for transesterification reactions five times after regeneration with n-hexane washing followed by calcination at 650 °C for 3 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employed detailed chemistry in conjunction with a zero-dimentional model (senkin code) to numerically investigate the ignition delay times of ternary biodiesel surrogate fuels (comprising n-heptane/methyl-decanoate/methyl-9-decenoate in an 80/10/10% molar ratio) blended with ethanol at ratios of 5, 10, 15 and 20%. Equivalence ratios covered the lean (Φ = 0.5), stoichiometric (Φ = 1.0) and rich (Φ = 1.5) mixtures with temperatures ranging from 700 to 1000 K and pressures from 20 to 40 bar. The primary objective of this work was to assess and quantify the role of chemical and physical (dilution and thermal) effects resulting from ethanol enrichment on the ignition delay times of these blended fuels. The modeling results indicated that ethanol addition had a distinctly different effect on the biodiesel reactivity in the low- and intermediate-temperature regimes. Below 900 K, ethanol addition decreased reactivity, whereas the opposite trend was observed in the temperature range of 900–1000 K. Irrespective of the ethanol ratio, a significant reduction in ignition delay times occurred upon increasing chamber pressure and equivalence ratio, with this phenomenon being more pronounced at higher chamber temperatures. Finally, it was found that under all modeling conditions, the physical effect of ethanol enrichment was less pronounced than the chemical one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae-based biodiesel production has gained momentum over petroleum-based fuels due to its carbon neutrality and environment friendly properties. However, issues like high cost of cultivation and usage of inorganic fertilizers possess hindrance towards its commercial production and warrant new approaches of its eco-friendly cultivation techniques. In the present study, effect of hydrochar derived from hydrothermal carbonization (HTCb) of banana pseudostem as a supplement was investigated on the growth performance of microalgae, Graesiella emersonii MN877773, for biodiesel production. The study revealed that hydrochar supplementation (250 ppm) to the 10 days old microalgae culture improved (p < 0.05) biomass productivity (2 times higher; 0.018 g/L/day). There was also 27% increase (p < 0.05) in lipid content (16%) and improved lipid productivity (i.e. 0.003 g/L/day) noticed due to the reduction of culture solution pH from highly alkaline to slightly alkaline through hydrochar addition. Fatty acid profiling revealed presence of more amount of methyl palmitate (56% higher) with the high saturated/unsaturated fatty acid ratio (1.3). The vehicular properties of the biodiesel produced from the hydrochar treated microalgae were also found in compliance with the national and international standards with the high heating value of 40.2 MJ/kg. Microalgae grown in hydrochar-supplemented treatment also settled at the bottom within 1 h of resting period with the flocculation efficiency of 50%. This leads to the reduction (62%) in energy expenditure (5.5 kWh/g) and cost (0.4 US$/g) required for harvesting the microalgae. The present study accentuates that hydrochar supplementation at certain dosage to the pre-grown microalgae stimulates more production of quality lipids in the test microalgae with possibility to thrust sustainable biodiesel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This practical study examined the effect of engine torque on engine performance and emissions. The most important parameters of engine performance are thermal efficiency, brake power (BP), and specific fuel consumption. As for exhaust emissions, the most important of which are hydrocarbons (HCs), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). The experiment was conducted for a single‐cylinder, four‐stroke compression ignition engine. Mixtures (B0, B10, B20, B30, and B40) were taken from biodiesel prepared from sunflower oil by the esterification method. The engine speed was fixed at 1700 rpm, and torque variable was from 0 to 10 N m. The results indicated a decrease in engine BP by an average of 19.5 W, a decrease in thermal efficiency by an average of 1.058%, while an increase in fuel consumption by an average of 0.095 kg/kW h−1 compared to diesel. As for exhaust emissions, HC emissions decreased by 5.8 ppm, while CO decreased by 0.0207%, and NOx emissions increased by 138.5 ppm compared to diesel, due to changes in the properties of biodiesel, such as high density, viscosity, and low calorific value compared to the properties of regular diesel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excessive reliance on fossil fuels has resulted in an energy crisis, environmental pollution, and health problems, calling for alternative fuels such as biodiesel. Here, we review computational chemistry and machine learning for optimizing biodiesel production from waste. This article presents computational and machine learning techniques, biodiesel characteristics, transesterification, waste materials, and policies encouraging biodiesel production from waste. Computational techniques are applied to catalyst design and deactivation, reaction and reactor optimization, stability assessment, waste feedstock analysis, process scale-up, reaction mechanims, and molecular dynamics simulation. Waste feedstock comprise cooking oil, animal fat, vegetable oil, algae, fish waste, municipal solid waste and sewage sludge. Waste cooking oil represents about 10% of global biodiesel production, and restaurants alone produce over 1,000,000 m3 of waste vegetable oil annual. Microalgae produces 250 times more oil per acre than soybeans and 7–31 times more oil than palm oil. Transesterification of food waste lipids can produce biodiesel with a 100% yield. Sewage sludge represents a significant biomass waste that can contribute to renewable energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to evaluate numerically the thermal parameters of dual fuel diesel engine working on two different hybrid fuels using the simulation code Diesel-RK. The combustion chamber is divided into several independent zone and the governing equation are solved for each zone. Initially the standard diesel fuel is tested in the engine to report the basic data for comparison. Then, the engine is turned to work on dual fuel mode operating on two hybrid fuels contains different blends of aqueous ammonia (NH4OH), Dimethyl ester (DME), and algae biodiesel derived from spirulina algae. The hybrid 1 consists of (20% diesel+50% NH4OH+30% DME) and the hybrid 2 involves (40% diesel+40% NH4OH+20% biodiesel). All blends are calculated on energy replacement. The obtained results showed decrease in the rate of heat release and compared to the fuel of diesel. An apparent increase in the brake specific fuel consumption is noticed due to the difference in the density, viscosity, and heating values for both hybrid fuels relative to diesel. The Bosch smoke number (BSN) is strikingly reduced by 51.2% and 53.2%, when hybrid 1 and hybrid 2 is used respectively. Promising reductions in NOx emissions achieved as follows: 48.12% for hybrid 1 and 37% for hybrid 2. The results highlighted that using hybrid 2 (40% DF+40% NH4OH+20% biodiesel) is preferable more than hybrid 1 (20% DF+50% NH4OH+30% DME) since the presence of biodiesel's properties showed better response than DME. The considered results showed noticeable altitude to fight the trade-off relation NOx-BSN. The validation of the results is checked through studies conducted by different researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the potential of eucalyptus biodiesel as a future fuel alternative, focusing on its impact on key engine performance metrics: brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC). Eucalyptus biodiesel was produced through a controlled transesterification process, further incorporating oxide particles and nanoaluminum to investigate potential quality enhancements. Blends of varying biodiesel proportions (D95-B5, D90-B10, D85-B15) were systematically evaluated in a watercooled, four-stroke, four-cylinder diesel engine across diverse operating conditions (1200, 1400, and 1600 rpm at 25%, 50%, and 75% load). Findings revealed a gradual decline in BTE and an increase in BSFC with increasing eucalyptus biodiesel content, indicating a decrease in overall fuel efficiency. To address this challenge, a further experiment explored the addition of nanoparticles (50 ppm, 75 ppm, and 100 ppm) to the D85-B15 blend. This strategic modification yielded a promising result: a significant improvement in both BTE and BSFC, highlighting the potential of nanoparticle additives to mitigate the efficiency drawbacks of eucalyptus biodiesel. Notably, this positive trend strengthened with increasing nanoparticle concentration and operating parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiesel and alternative fuels have been key research areas for the last two decades, but low energy density and emission of NOx are the barriers for their commercialization. However, existing reviews do not have a holistic approach for the commercialization of nanofuel in CI engines. So, in this regard, nanoparticles can address the aforementioned issues. Currently, research is going on to explore different nanoparticles in the area of biofuel and biodiesel. Hence, the current work's focus is structured in two parts: the first part reviews the application of nanoparticles in biodiesel fuels holistically, emphasizing fuel properties and engine characteristics. The second part examines research hotspots, financial implications, drawbacks, and alternatives to nano-biofuel. This study also summarises the holistic view of biodiesel and nanoparticles of various kinds and their effects on fuel properties and engine characteristics such as performance, combustion and emissions. Moreover, the nanoparticle characteristics, cost analysis of diesel engines, and impacts of nanoparticles in the environment with their prospects and future research opportunities have also been discussed in the current manuscript. Finally, the study concludes that incorporating hybrid Al2O3 and GO nanoparticles of size 20–30 nm in 20% waste oil biodiesel blended in 80% petro-diesel can be the potential fuel to be commercialized in CI engines without any engine modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiesel made from renewable energy sources is gaining popularity due to its environmental and economic benefits. In this work, the effect of the most important reaction variables was investigated during the acid‐catalyzed of Spirulina sp. microalgae oil to biodiesel. Results showed that the biodiesel was obtained at 60°C for 8 h using 30 g of dry Spirulina sp. powder in 300 mL of n‐hexane. Physical characteristics of the biodiesel produced from Spirulina sp. were confirmed using, evaporation temperature, flash point, freeze point, and fire point. The presence of bonds of CH3, ROH, RC≡C‐H, ‐CH = CH‐CH2)n, R‐CH2‐X, and ArOH in the biodiesel 1H NMR spectrum. Further, the biodiesel produced from the Spirulina sp. subjected to FT‐IR and GC MS which revealed the aliphatic hydrocarbons and the list of compounds such as Oleic acid, 9‐octadecenal etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The impact of fossil fuel utilisation in different combustion systems on climate change due to greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere is rather evident. A part of these gases comes from the large engines used for propulsion in marine applications. In the continuous global effort made by engine manufacturers to mitigate this negative impact, one way is represented by the utilisation of alternative fuels such as biodiesel and methanol, based on dedicated research to fulfil the more stringent regulations concerning pollutant emissions issued by piston heat engines. In this study, a numerical investigation was conducted on a four-stroke large marine diesel engine (ALCO 16V 251C) at several engine speeds and full load conditions. Different blends of diesel–methanol and biodiesel B20–methanol with methanol mass fractions of 10% and 20% were considered for theoretical analysis in two techniques of methanol supply: direct injection mode of a blend of base fuel diesel/biodiesel B20 with methanol and injection of methanol after the intercooler, and direct injection of the base fuel. The results show that, if 10% in power loss can be acceptable, then for diesel–methanol 10%, in the direct injection technology, the NOx emission can be reduced up to 19%, but with a compromise of an 8% increase in SOOT emission, while for biodiesel B20–methanol 10%, with the same direct injection method, the NOx emissions increase by up to 58% with the benefit of reducing SOOT by up to 23% relative to the original diesel fuel operation. For a 20% methanol fraction in blend fuel, the drop in power is more than 10% regardless of the method of methanol supply and the base fuel, diesel, or B20 used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study focuses on the theoretical assessment of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) obtained by blending traditional jet fuel (Jet A) and different liquids (biodiesel and alcohols) from an analytical point of view. Aeroshell 500 oil was added (5% vol.) to ensure the lubrication of the turbo engine. An in-depth analysis of the physical-chemical properties of Jet A fuel blended with different biodiesels and alcohols was performed. The considered blends consisted of Jet A fuel and biodiesel from palm oil, pork fat, and sunflower and methanol, ethanol, and butanol. All six liquids were mixed with Jet A by 10, 20 and 30%. Flash point, kinematic viscosity, density, freezing point, elemental analysis, and FTIR analysis were conducted for all the blends. The acquired results show the influence of each component on the physical-chemical properties of the blends. Based on the physical-chemical analysis of the blends, conclusions on the latter's behavior during burning were drawn and the gaseous pollutants resulting from the burning process were examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the use of nano-blended biodiesel, made by mixing waste transformer biodiesel with nanoscale aluminum oxide particles. A fuel blend ratio containing both diesel and biodiesel components was created with 100 parts per million of alumina nanoparticles. All tests were conducted at various loads in an engine, using diesel, biodiesel, and nano-blended biodiesel fuel. The outcomes demonstrated that adding nanoparticles improved engine thermal efficiency and reduced emissions, especially at higher fuel injection timings. The greatest increase in brake thermal efficiency, 6% higher than diesel mode, was achieved with a nano-blended biodiesel formulation containing 100 ppm of aluminum oxide, at a fuel injection timing of 27 before top dead center under full load conditions. With a constant nanoparticle-blended biodiesel content and fuel injection timing of 27 before top dead center, reductions of 1.5% in smoke, 33% in hydrocarbon, and 8% in carbon monoxide emissions were observed, with a 9.7% increase in NO emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mexico has a developing biodiesel market. Although the international trend of production and consumption has increased over the last decade, the quantities produced in the country are still minimal compared to those of petrodiesel. To understand the reasons why Mexico has an under-exploited and under-utilized market, this work describes the current demand situation with a theoretical proposal of a model that responds to seven explanatory variables of its behavior: price of biodiesel, price of petrodiesel as a substitute good, price of petrodiesel as a complementary good, income of the population, number of transports with a functional diesel engine, certifications, and the availability of the product in the supply chain. The lack of regulation regarding the norms for the production, handling, transport, and disposal of this type of biofuel means that there is still no defined biodiesel market in Mexico, which means that most biodiesel production is destined for self-consumption or informal retail sales, which means that the product does not have a defined supply chain in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green microalga Chlorella vulgaris was used as a test organism during this study for evaluation of the impact of different heavy metal stress, Mn2+, Co2+, and Zn2+, on enhancing the biodiesel production. The algal cultures were grown for 13 days under heavy metal stress after which were subjected to estimation of growth, some primary metabolites, lipid, and fatty acid profiles. The maximum lipid accumulation (283.30 mg/g CDW) was recorded in the algal culture treated with 3 µM cobalt nitrate. Application of 2 mM manganese chloride; 1, 2, and 3 μM cobalt nitrate; and 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 mM zinc sulfate caused highly significant increases in the lipid contents amounting to 183.8, 191.4, 230.6, 283.3, 176.3, 226.0, and 212.1 mg/g CDW, respectively, in comparison to control (153.4 mg/g CDW). The maximum proportion of saturated fatty acids (SFA) (64.44%) was noted in the culture treated with 6 mM MnCl2 due to the existence of palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), and pentadecylic acid (C15:0) which are represented by 53.59%, 5.96%, and 1.37%, respectively, of the total FAs. Relative increase in energy compound (REEC) showed that 1, 2, and 3 µM Co2+ lead to the highest stimulation in lipid and carbohydrate contents to 0.207, 0.352, and 0.329 × 103%, respectively. Empirical formulas were used for the assessment of biodiesel fuel properties based on FAME composition. The estimated properties met the prescribed international standard criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soy-based biodiesel can reduce well-to-wheels greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per unit energy (i.e., gCO2e/MJ) by 66%-72% as compared to the petroleum-based diesel fuel with currently adopted agricultural and industrial practices. Biodiesel can reduce particulate matter and carbon monoxide emissions with a manageable degree of increase in NOx emissions. From the perspective of GHG emissions reduction per unit travelling distance (i.e., gCO2e/mile), the application of B20 in compression ignition engines without the adjustment in engine control unit (ECU) settings will not extract the best carbon emissions reduction that B20 could achieve. Optimizing the engine control settings permits re-calibration to achieve the maximum brake fuel conversion efficiency (BFE) based on comprehensive understanding on the impact of both "fuel" and "ECU calibration" on BFE and other criteria pollutant emissions. The maximum GHG emissions reduction with B20 application is experimentally measured with the optimized ECU calibration, thus providing the understanding of the combined impact of biodiesel fuel and calibrations on engine performance and emissions. Six steady operating modes were considered, that can be combined to estimate the US federal test procedure BFE and emissions over the Federal Test Protocol (FTP) 75 cycle. Combined with the weight factors to simulate the EPA FTP 75 cycle from these 6 "mini-map" test points, 0.53% improvement in the energy requirement per unit traveling distance (i.e., MJ/mile) is achieved for B20 with the final ECU calibration, in addition to the degree of GHG emissions reduction on a "gCO2e/MJ" basis from the use of B20 blend of soy biodiesel of ~12.5% reduction in gCO2e/MJ, for a total GHG emissions reduction of 13%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to uncover the emission, combustion, and performance features of the blend of Water Hyacinth biodiesel and Mesua Ferrea seed oil biodiesel with Hydrogen addition on a diesel engine in dual fuel. Pilot fuel is a blend of 50% Water Hyacinth biodiesel and 50% Mesua Ferrea seed oil biodiesel. A single-cylinder compression ignition engine was modified to operate on dual fuel mode with hydrogen. Variations of engine operating parameters such as injection timing, and engine load were performed. The study was conducted with three pilot fuel injection timings (23, 26, and 29°bTDC) and variable engine loadings (20%–100% with an increment of 20%) at an injection pressure of 200 bar and compression ratio of 18. The results indicated that the maximum brake thermal efficiency of 28.11% and a replacement of liquid fuel by 85% was obtained for the WHMF blend powered dual fuel diesel engine at pilot fuel injection timings of 26°bTDC at 100% load. HC, CO, and smoke emissions are reduced with hydrogen due to faster combustion. On the other hand, there was a slight increase in NOx emissions noticed with hydrogen enrichment. [Display omitted] • Pilot fuel is a blend of 50% Water Hyacinth Biodiesel and 50% Mesua Ferrea Biodiesel. • Hydrogen is used with pilot fuel under dual fuel mode to improve combustion. • Hydrogen enrichment improves the brake thermal efficiency of the pilot fuel. • Emissions of CO and HC were reduced with hydrogen addition in the pilot fuel. • Liquid fuel replacement of 85% is achieved at an IT of 26⁰bTDC of the pilot fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiesel serves as a viable alternative to traditional diesel due to its non-toxicity, biodegradability, and lower environmental footprint. Among the diverse edible and inedible feedstocks, waste frying oil emerges as a promising and affordable feedstock for biodiesel production. Commonly waste frying oils include those derived from palm, corn, sunflower, soybean, rapeseed, and canola. The primary challenge related to biodiesel production technologies is the high production cost, which poses a significant barrier to its widespread adoption. Thus, refining the production techniques is essential to enhance yield, reduce capital expenditure, and curtail raw material expenses. An examination of the research focusing on feedstock availability, production, hurdles, operational expenditures, and future potential is pivotal for identifying the most economically and technically viable solutions. This paper critically reviews such research by exploring feedstock availability, production techniques, challenges, and costs intrinsic to biodiesel synthesis. It also underscores the economic feasibility of biodiesel production, shedding light on the pivotal factors that influence profitability, especially when leveraging waste frying oils. Through an in-depth understanding of these considerations, optimal production and feedstock choices for biodiesel production can be identified. Addressing cost and production bottlenecks could potentially enhance the economic viability of waste frying oil-based biodiesel, thus fostering both environmental sustainability and more extensive adoption of biodiesel as an environmental-friendly fuel in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The techno-economic analysis of producing biodiesel from agrarian wastes at optimal condition was carried out. The acid activated empty palm fruit bunch ash (AAEPFBA) catalyzed the methyl ester production. The AAEPFBA catalyst was synthesized from waste palm fruit bunch, and modified with phosphoric acid. The activation was best achieved by adding H3PO4 acid in a ratio of 1:2 (g/ml). The modification of the catalyst increased the alkaline properties and surface area and decreased the particle size and adsorption energy. The process variables of temperature 61.9 °C, reaction time of 3.09 h, methanol/oil molar ratio of 10.2:1, catalyst concentration of 3.14wt%, and agitation speed of 321.54 rpm at a desirability of one gave an experimental optimal yield of biodiesel as 90.3%. Based on the experimental study, 3062 litres (2728 kg) of biodiesel was evaluated annually. The annual operating cost, payback period, and internal rate of return are N2201288, 1.5 years, and 7.6%, respectively. The sensitivity analysis of oil purchase cost, biodiesel selling price, and labour cost on Return on investment, PBP, IRR, and Net present value were investigated. In this study, the relative biodiesel selling price is a determinant of the profitability of producing avocado pear seed oil methyl ester. The overall results show that investors can embark on biodiesel production using avocado pear seed oil, and AAEPFBA as feedstocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research work introduces a novel mixture optimization methodology for biodiesel fuels using an Evolutionary Computation method inspired by biological evolution. Specifically, the optimal biodiesel composition is deduced from the application of a nature-inspired adaptive genetic algorithm that first examines percentages of the ingredients in the optimal mixtures. The innovative approach's effectiveness lies in problem simulation with improvements in the evaluation of the specific function and the way to define and tune the genetic algorithm. Environmental imperatives in the era of climate change currently impose the optimized production of alternative environmentally friendly biofuels to replace fossil fuels. Biodiesel in particular, appears to be more attractive in recent years, as it originates from renewable bio-derived resources. The main ingredients of the specific biofuel mixture investigated in this research are diesel and biodiesel (100% from bioresources). The assessment of the new biodiesel examined was performed using a fitness function that estimated both the density and cost of the fuel. Beyond the evaluation criterion of cost, density also influences the suitability of this biofuel for commercial use and market sale. The outcomes from the modeling process can be beneficial in saving cost and time for new biodiesel production by using this novel decision-making tool in comparison with randomized laboratory experimentations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to examine the impact of blending third-generation biodiesel waste cooking biodiesel (WCO biodiesel) and Azolla pinnata microalgae biodiesel (APO biodiesel) with cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) at 40 ppm concentration, encompassing sizes of 20, 50, and 100 nm. These biodiesels were generated via methanol-KOH trans-esterification. The investigation was carried out on a Kirloskar TV1 single-cylinder four-stroke variable compression ratio (VCR) diesel engine across load variations (0–100%) and compression ratios (i.e., CRs 16, 17, and 18) at a consistent 1500 rpm engine speed. Among various test fuel blends, D80W10A10CNP50 (Diesel 80% + WCO 10% + APO 10% + 40 ppm CeO2 50 nm) yielded optimized results across all conditions. Incorporating CeO2 NPs boosted brake thermal efficiency (BTE) by reducing brake-specific energy consumption (BSEC), and it facilitated efficient combustion as a catalyst, leading to decreased emissions. NP size notably influenced these enhancements. Specifically, employing 50 nm NPs yielded optimal performance parameters and reduced exhaust emissions across all CRs. At CR-17, as compared to additive-free D80W10A10, the fuel formulation, including 50 nm NPs, resulted in an 11.1% BTE increase and a 6.03% BSEC decrease. Also, emission parameters revealed that carbon monoxide (CO), unburnt hydrocarbons (UBHC), nitrogen oxides (NOX), and smoke opacity decreased by 30.76%, 25.44%, 9.12%, and 13.64%, respectively, while carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions increased by 10.09%. These results may help elucidate the chemical mechanism of action of NPs and open the way for developing a more effective fuel additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to stringent emission regulations, vehicle manufacturers must control diesel engine emissions. To address these regulations, this study introduces a novel approach for generating methane-enriched biogas through ultrasonic pretreatment and using it in dual fuel-mode diesel engines with a Hiptage biodiesel blend and biohydrogen. The study employs an RSM-based central composite design (CCD) approach to develop the L 54 orthogonal array for five factors and five levels of parameters. Additionally, seven different machine learning algorithms (DTR, RFR, ETR, GBR, LR, CBR, and XGBR) are used to develop a prognostic model based on the acquired experimental data. These models are used to estimate key performance indicators such as brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NO x). Based on the evaluation of performance indicators, including R2 values (0.9021–0.97344), RMSE (0.00203–26.5539), MAE (0.00114–23.5944), and MAPE (0.0215–0.04438), the GBR model establishes the most accurate predictions. Furthermore, the RSM-based desirability approach is used to evaluate the trade-off between performance and emissions, thereby identifying the optimal engine operating condition. This condition includes an engine load of 83%, a compression ratio of 18:1, a fuel injection pressure (FIP) of 243 bar, a fuel injection timing (FIT) of 26° crank angle advance, and a biogas flow rate of 1.2 kg/h. Experimental investigation validates the RSM analysis findings, revealing an error margin of 7%. Overall, the introduction of methane-enriched biogas into a dual-fuel diesel engine improves combustion, resulting in increased engine performance and reduced emissions. [Display omitted] • Examine the effect of ultrasound on methane yield in the co-digestion of waste. • Study the behavior of a dual-fuel diesel engine with biodiesel, biogas, and biohydrogen. • Apply ML-RSM for prediction and optimization of engine characteristics. • The GB Regressor model demonstrated the most accurate predictions for key performance. • Experimental validation shows a maximum error of 7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the emission and performance characteristics of single-cylinder diesel engines were tested using various biodiesel blends prepared by mixing diesel with mango seed oil biodiesel (MSOB). Furthermore, the effect of n-amyl and n-hexanol alcohol additions on the performance and emission results of manufactured biodiesel blends is investigated and compared with diesel fuel. On the other hand, a hybrid deep neural network (DNN) based on the manta ray foraging optimization (MRFO) method is developed to forecast ideal biodiesel blends in order to reduce emissions from diesel engines while improving performance. The optimal brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) for this study were 32.3916 % for 75 % diesel + 20 % MSOB + 5 % n-hexanol fuel and 0.0453 kg/kWh for 75 % diesel + 20 % MSOB + 5 % n-amyl fuel, respectively. The optimal emissions from the test engine were 0.1034 % CO from 60 % diesel + 20 % MSOB + 20 % n-hexanol and 28.886 ppm HC from 75 % diesel + 20 % MSOB + 5 % n-hexanol fuel. The optimal smoke and NOx levels are achieved with a blend of 60 % diesel, 20 % MSOB, 5 % n-amyl, and 5 % n-hexane. Moreover, the developed DNN-MRFO achieved 0.9979, 0.9992 and 0.9975 overall regression coefficients during training, validation and testing. The root mean square error (RMSE) of DNN-MRFO also ranges from 0.019 to 0.032. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, the simulation of the purification process of waste cooking oil (WCO) as feedstock for biodiesel production was simulated using Aspen Plus TM V11.0. The process was simulated considering the compositions of the waste cooking oils in the central region of Mexico, specifically in the center of the state of Guanajuato. The equipment necessary to separate the ash and organic food waste were considered in the process simulation. It is necessary to consider that waste cooking oil contains a large amount of free fatty acids, which could cause saponification in the case of using the basic route to produce biodiesel. Kinetic model and thermodynamics model were taken from literature. As initial part of the process simulation a decanter was included. Therefore, the process was simulated to reduce the amount of free fatty acids and remotion or ashes and water from waste cooking oil. Finally, the purified oil contains, less than 1% by weight of free fatty acids, which makes it ideal for producing biodiesel by basic transesterification or any other route for biodiesel production. These results were consistent with the experimental results reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The globe is in search for an upgraded and compatible alternative of diesel to triumph over pollution and its limited availability issues. Researchers are using biodiesel from various edible and non‐edible oil sources to reduce environmental footprint of diesel. This article compares the performance and emission characteristics of diesel engines fueled by edible and non‐edible oil biodiesel. In this work, five biodiesels (methyl esters of microalgae, jatropha, karanja, soybean, and sunflower) are tested and transesterification is used to produce methyl esters to optimize their physiochemical properties. It is observed that all the properties lie in tolerance limits. To examine the compatibility of the proposed methyl esters two performance characteristics, brake thermal efficiency and brake specific fuel consumption are examined. Further, the emission characteristics such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and carbon dioxides are investigated. To validate results the blend characteristics are compared to diesel. The relative analysis revels that the brake thermal efficiency is declined by 8.87% as compared to diesel whereas the brake specific fuel consumption is increased by 4.28%. The carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon levels are decreased by 7.32% and 20.56% whereas nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide levels are increased by 7.47% and 4.80%, respectively. The analysis infers that microalgae biodiesel gives adequately better characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is intended to find out and analyse the impact of work environment and work satisfaction on employee performance, which is mediated by work motivation. The research was done quantitatively by using the survey method with data analysis technique using SEM PLS. The questionnaire was a data collection instrument and was spread online through Google Forms. It had a sample quota of 83 respondents from millennial-generation employees from a refinery-biodiesel plant in PT. X. The independent variable in this research is work environment (X1) and Job satisfaction (X2); the dependent variable is employee performance (Y) and, with mediating variable, namely work motivation (Z). The result from this research is that work environment (X1) and work satisfaction (X2) do not affect employee performance (Y) because the t-statistic values of 1,237 and 0,068 are successively lesser than 1,96 values with a significance of 0,05. With the mediation available in the form of work motivation (Y), it can be obtained data in which work environment (X1) and work satisfaction (X2) positively affect and signification to employee performance (Y) with t-statistic values by 2,157 and 3,872 successively with the significance lesser than 0,05. Besides that, work motivation (Y) also positively affects and is significant toward employee performance with a t-statistic value of 4,490 and a significance of 0,05. Further research is expected to research other variables that are able to support employees' increasing performance, such as organisational commitment, work-life balance, and organisational culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is currently dealing with an energy crisis, primarily due to heavy reliance on finite fossil fuels and the associated rise in energy demand. In response to this crisis, replacing heavy reliance on finite fossil fuels with biodiesel has gained attention as an alternative solution. Sub‐Saharan African (SSA) biodiesel studies have traditionally focused on improving transesterification but overlook socio‐economic, policy, and institutional impacts on production sustainability. To address this gap, this study comprehensively reviews the sustainability of transesterification‐based biodiesel production from nonedible feedstocks in SSA. The study's incorporation of socio‐economic factors, policy considerations, sustainability concerns, and institutional frameworks reveals the complex prospects and challenges facing biodiesel production in SSA. The findings reveal that sustainability challenges in SSA stem from a lack of an integrated approach, resulting in conflicting local and global policies. The study determines that neglecting socio‐economic factors, policy considerations, sustainability concerns, and institutional frameworks weakens regional biodiesel production sustainability. Evidence from the study emphasizes the role of an integrated approach in promoting biofuel production, establishing markets, and improving the livelihoods of the region's population. Furthermore, the review shows that transesterification can yield biodiesel with comparable physical properties to conventional diesel, making it a wide region's favored option. This article is categorized under:Human and Social Dimensions > Energy and Climate JusticeSustainable Energy > BioenergySustainable Development > Goals [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global demand for energy is exponentially increasing, driven by population growth and technological advancements. Most of the sources of energy used worldwide are fossil fuels and natural gas. However, the limited availability of these energy resources is a significant challenge faced currently. In the present work, an investigation of mustard seed biodiesel is carried out as an alternative energy source. The transesterification process was employed to prepare biodiesel and experimental method were implemented to determine fuel properties. The density and viscosity of pure mustard oil were high compared to pure diesel. Additionally, the amount of load applied and the different blend types determine the overall engine performance. This study showed that mustard seed biofuel blended with diesel is capable of running the diesel engine and can be used as the best alternative energy sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, hybrid biodiesel was produced from a mixture of canola oil and tannery waste fat. The hybrid fuel meets the biodiesel fuel standards. Especially, the hybrid fuel cold flow properties were better than the biodiesel obtained from only tannery waste fat. HB10 and HB30 diesel-hybrid biodiesel fuel mixtures were prepared by mixing the biodiesel fuel with 10 and 30% by volume. The biodiesel produced by adding canola oil to the tannery waste fat decreased the cold filter plugging point from 10 to 0 °C compared to the biodiesel obtained only from tannery waste fat. The experiments were carried out with a single-cylinder diesel engine under different loads and speeds. While the highest increase in brake-specific fuel consumption value compared to diesel fuel was realized as 9 and 17% in HB10 and HB30 fuels, respectively, at 1800 rpm and 3 Nm; the highest decrease in brake-thermal efficiency value was realized as 8 and 15% in HB10 and HB30, respectively. It was observed that the start of injection and combustion of hybrid biodiesel blends was earlier than diesel fuel, and the ignition delay values were close to each other for all test fuels. NOx emissions slightly increased as the hybrid biodiesel addition to diesel fuel increased. In addition, the soot emissions of HB10 fuel decreased slightly, while soot emissions of HB30 fuel increased. HB10 fuel reduced soot emissions by 1.7% at 1800 rpm and 9 Nm while reduced by 1.5% at 12 Nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae biofuel has gained notoriety as a third-generation renewable fuel due to its high yield, rapid growth rate, and capability to absorb CO2. The current study provides insights into the combustion, performance and emission characteristics of neat algae oil and biodiesel from the Chlorella vulgaris microalgae as an alternative fuel source for compression ignition (CI) engine in comparison with diesel. In addition, elemental analysis and fuel characterisation studies of Chlorella vulgaris methyl ester (CVME) algae with GC–MS, FTIR, and UV–Vis are accorded. The spectral studies of CVME algae confess the existence of (C–H) along with (C–O), (C=O), (O–CH3), etc. Further, the spectral study of CVME algae with GCMS imposes the presence of methyl oleate as a significant constituent and the chemical structure of algae biofuel is C19H36O2. Conversely, the elemental compositions of CVME algae with a CHN analyser illustrate the existence of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in the proportions of 66.80%, 11.80%, and 21.40%, respectively. The BTE of the engine fuelled with CVME shows a closer resemblance with diesel, whereas the NCVO deteriorates owing to its higher viscosity. Regardless, the combustion phenomenon such as ignition delay period, in-cylinder pressure, combustion duration and heat release rate (HRR) of NCVO and CVME are significantly lower at maximum load conditions in comparison with diesel. However, the emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (UBHC) and smoke are lesser with diesel than NCVO and CVME. In contrast, the emissions of nitrous oxide (NOx) are higher for CVME compared to diesel and NCVO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]