PERFORMANCE AND EMISSION ANALYSIS OF A HYBRIDIZED NANO ADDITIVE IN WASTE COOKING OIL BIODIESEL AND ITS BLENDS IN A DIESEL ENGINE

This work investigated the effects of a hybridized nano additive on performance and emission behavior of waste cooking oil (WCO) derived biodiesel and its blends with fossil diesel (FD). Three different oil portions of WCO from soya bean (WCO01), cotton seed (WCO02), and sunflower seed (WCO03) were purchased from Enfields Chemicals, a waste cooking oil buying firm based in Durban, South Africa. The samples were evaluated for fatty acid composition and characterization of physicochemical properties to select WCO3 which showed with most superior properties which was then transformed into biodiesel by transesterification. The biodiesel produced from transesterification was mixed with 100 ppm of a hybridized nano additive consisting of 50 ppm of aluminum oxide (AL 2O3) and 50 ppm of cerium oxide (CeO2) to produce nano fuel blends. The base fuel and nano additives were mixed with the aid of an ultrasonicator to produce a well-blended mixture as well as to avoid clustering problems. The resulting fuel samples were utilized immediately to avoid occurrence of sedimentation. Thereafter the fuel was tested for properties then tested in a two - cylinder Kirloskar engine operated at constant speed of 1 500 rpm. From the experimental analysis, addition of hybridized nano additives improved BTE by a maximum value of 6.22 % compared to FD fuel when evaluated against load. A maximum decrease in BSFC of 10.20 % was noted with hybrid nano fuel WCO20A50C50 compared to FD fuel. A significant reduction in NOX of 25.62 % was found compare d to FD. CO, unburnt hydrocarbons (UBHC) and smoke opacity were reduced by 36.8 %, 27.8 % and 17.68 % respectively compared to FD. WCO20A50C50 produced the most superior characteristics of all the fuels tested in this research. The research concluded that addition of a hybridized nano additive of CeO2 and AlO2 is a novel catalyst capable of improving engine performance and reducing emissions significantly. This will subsequently increase adoption of biofuels and help save planet earth.