Nano dosed azolla biodiesel production and experimentation on a diesel engine

Abstract

newline Petroleum reserves are depleting at a faster rate, as technology is reaching greater heights. Biodiesel is one such viable and promising alternative fuel that can be produced from a variety of renewable oils. Furthermore, the fuel should be capable of improving engine performance while emitting less pollution. Besides that, continuous efforts are being made around the world to reduce the consumption of petroleum fuels in whatever way is possible. As a result of the excessive use of fossil fuels, fossil resources have depleted. This, in turn, encourages researchers to be inventive and pushes them to prioritize research for alternative fuels that are indigenous, easily accessible, and environmentally friendly. The most competent and efficient use of renewable feedstock is essential for the production of biodiesel, which has increased worldwide interest in aquatic ferns Azolla. Maximizing biodiesel yield by optimizing the process parameters of the low-frequency ultrasonic energy-assisted transesterification of Azolla oil is essential for lowering biodiesel production costs. In this study, the effect of four fundamental theoretically justifiable reaction parameters, namely methanol/Azolla oil molar ratio (A), KOH catalyst concentration (B), reaction time (C), and reaction temperature (D), on the transesterification of Azolla Oil to biodiesel was analysed. To find the best optimum reaction parameters for this transesterification process, the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used with a Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD). The primary goal of this study was to investigate the effect of adding SiO2 nano additives into Azolla oil methyl ester as a sustainable biodiesel in a compression ignition engine, as well as to study engine performance and emission effects. The methyl ester of Azolla oil was synthesised through the transesterification process and sonicated with the existing diesel and SiO2 nano particles.