Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Combined effect of Phoenix dactylifera biodiesel and multiwalled carbon nanotube–titanium dioxide nanoparticles for modified diesel engines

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This investigation addressed Phoenix dactylifera biodiesel (PDME) production using an ultrasound-assisted transesterification process. The produced Phoenix dactylifera biodiesel (PDME25) was blended with different concentrations of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and titanium dioxide (TiO2). Diethyl ether (DEE, 1% vol.) and sorbitan oleate (Span80, 2% vol.) surfactants were used to enhance and stabilize nanoparticles for the physiochemical properties in the base fluids. The piston bowl geometry was modified to a toroidal type for better swirl and squish motion, and a six-hole fuel injector was used for enhanced atomization. The BTE and HRR improved by 22.9% and 20.1%, respectively, while the CO, HC, smoke emissions, BSFC, and ignition delay decreased by 32.8%, 23.8%, 13.4%, 25.2%, and 19.08%, respectively. The results showed that the blend of potential biodiesel sources, viz. Phoenix dactylifera and MWCNT–TiO2 nanoadditives, delivered comparable diesel fuel properties.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Fig. 21

Similar content being viewed by others

Availability of data and materials

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article.

Abbreviations

NPs:

Nanoparticles

FI :

Fuel injection

CC:

Combustion chamber

TCC:

Toroidal combustion chamber

FFA :

Free fatty acid

A: F:

Air-to-fuel ratio

RSM:

Response surface methodology

ASTM:

American Society for Testing and Materials

ATDC:

After top dead center

MWCNTs :

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes

TiO2 :

Titanium dioxide

D100 :

Pure diesel

PDME:

Phoenix dactylifera methyl ester

PDME25:

25% Phoenix dactylifera methyl ester blended with 75% diesel

PDME25MaTb50:

PDME25 with 25 ppm MWCNTs and 25 ppm TiO2 NPs

PDME25MaTb100:

PDME25 with 50 ppm MWCNTs and 50 ppm TiO2 NPs

PDME25MaTb150:

PDME25 with 75 ppm MWCNTs and 75 ppm TiO2 NPs

SDS :

Sodium dodecyl sulfate

BP :

Brake power

BSFC:

Brake-specific fuel consumption

BTDC :

Before top dead center

IP:

Injection pressure

BTE :

Brake thermal efficiency

CO :

Carbon monoxide

CO2 :

Carbon dioxide

CH3OH :

Ethanol

GHG :

Greenhouse gas

HC:

Hydrocarbons

NaOH :

Sodium hydroxide

NOx :

Nitrogen oxides

CD:

Combustion duration

HRR:

Heat release rate

rpm:

Rotations per minute

SFC:

Specific fuel consumption

wt.:

Weight

max.:

Maximum

vol.%:

Volume percent

CN:

Cetane number

°CA :

Crank angle (degrees)

Cv, Cal. Val.:

Calorific value

IT:

Injection timing

°C:

Celsius

nm:

Nanometer

ppm:

Parts per million

g:

Gram

g/kWh:

Gram per kilowatt hour

h:

Hour

kg:

Kilograms

kJ/kg:

Kilo Joules per kilogram

kW:

Kilowatt

L, lit.:

Liter

min:

Minutes

m:

Meter

mm:

Millimeter

MPa:

Mega Pascal

N m:

Newton meter

References

  • Abdalla RSM, Albasheer A, El-Hussein ARM, Gadkariem EA (2012) Physico-chemical characteristics of date seed oil grown in Sudan. Am J Appl Sci 9(7):993–999

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ağbulut Ü, Karagöz M, Sarıdemir S, Öztürk A (2020) Impact of various metal-oxide based nanoparticles and biodiesel blends on the combustion, performance, emission, vibration and noise characteristics of a CI engine. Fuel 270:117521

    Google Scholar 

  • Akbari M, Razavizadeh R, Mohebbi G, Barmak A (2012) Oil characteristics and fatty acid profile of seeds from three varieties of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) cultivars in Bushehr-Iran. Afr J Biotech 11(57):12088–12093

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Akram N et al (2020) A comprehensive review on nanofluid operated solar flat plate collectors. J Therm Anal Calorim 139(2):1309–1343

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ala’a H et al (2018) Biodiesel production over a catalyst prepared from biomass-derived waste date pits. Biotechnol Rep 20:e00284

    Google Scholar 

  • Alavijeh RS, Karimi K, van den Berg C (2020) An integrated and optimized process for cleaner production of ethanol and biodiesel from corn stover by Mucor indicus. J Cleaner Product 249:119321

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Farsi M, Alasalvar C, Al-Abid M, Al-Shoaily K, Al-Amry M, Al-Rawahy F (2007) Compositional and functional characteristics of dates, syrups, and their by-products. Food Chem 104(3):943–947

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Amany M, Shaker MA, Abeer A (2012) Antioxidant activities of date pits in a model meat system. Int Food Res J, 19(1)

  • Antić Ž et al (2012) Multisite luminescence of rare earth doped TiO2 anatase nanoparticles. Mater Chem Phys 135(2–3):1064–1069

    Google Scholar 

  • Atabani AE, Silitonga AS, Badruddin IA, Mahlia T, Masjuki H, Mekhilef S (2012) A comprehensive review on biodiesel as an alternative energy resource and its characteristics. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 16(4):2070–2093

    Google Scholar 

  • Ataye SE, Hadad KM, Lame S, Habibi NM, Fatemi S (2011) Determination of chemical composition and fatty acids profile of date seed

  • Azeem MW, Hanif MA, Al-Sabahi JN, Khan AA, Naz S, Ijaz A (2016) Production of biodiesel from low priced, renewable and abundant date seed oil. Renew Energy 86:124–132

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ba-Abbad MM, Kadhum AAH, Mohamad AB, Takriff MS, Sopian K (2012) Synthesis and catalytic activity of TiO2 nanoparticles for photochemical oxidation of concentrated chlorophenols under direct solar radiation. Int J Electrochem Sci 7(6):4871–4888

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Banapurmath N, Tewari P, Gaitonde V (2012) Experimental investigations on performance and emission characteristics of Honge oil biodiesel (HOME) operated compression ignition engine. Renewable Energy 48:193–201

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Banapurmath NR, Sankaran R, Tumbal A, TN N, Hunashyal A, Ayachit N (2014) Experimental investigation on direct injection diesel engine fuelled with graphene, silver and multiwalled carbon nanotubes-biodiesel blended fuels. Int J Autom Eng Technol 3(4):129–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Basha JS, Anand R (2011) An experimental investigation in a diesel engine using carbon nanotubes blended water–diesel emulsion fuel. Proc Instit Mech Eng, Part A J Power Energy 225(3):279–288

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Besbes S, Blecker C, Deroanne C, Lognay G, Drira N, Attia H (2004) Quality characteristics and oxidative stability of date seed oil during storage. Food Sci Technol Int 10(5):333–338

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bouaziz MA, Besbes S, Blecker C, Attia H (2013) Chemical composition and some functional properties of soluble fibro-protein extracts from Tunisian date palm seeds. Afr J Biotechnol, 12(10)

  • Cui S et al (2004) Investigation on preparation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes by DC arc discharge under N2 atmosphere. Carbon 42(5–6):931–939

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Demirbas A (2007) Importance of biodiesel as transportation fuel. Energy policy 35(9):4661–4670

    Google Scholar 

  • Demirbas A (2017) Utilization of date biomass waste and date seed as bio-fuels source. Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects 39(8):754–760

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dhahad HA, Ali SA, Chaichan MT (2020) Combustion analysis and performance characteristics of compression ignition engines with diesel fuel supplemented with nano-TiO2 and nano-Al2O3. Case Stud Thermal Eng, 100651

  • EL-Seesy AI, Abdel-Rahman AK, Bady M, Ookawara S (2016) The influence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes additives into nonedible biodieseldiesel fuel blend on diesel engine performance and emissions. Energy Proc 100:166–172

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Seesy AI, Hassan H (2019) Investigation of the effect of adding graphene oxide, graphene nanoplatelet, and multiwalled carbon nanotube additives with n-butanol-Jatropha methyl ester on a diesel engine performance. Renew Energy 132:558–574

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Seesy AI, Abdel-Rahman AK, Bady M, Ookawara S (2017) Performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of a diesel engine fueled by biodiesel-diesel mixtures with multi-walled carbon nanotubes additives. Energy Convers Manage 135:373–393

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farade RA et al (2020) Investigation of the dielectric and thermal properties of non-edible cottonseed oil by infusing h-BN nanoparticles. IEEE Access 8:76204–76217

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernando S, Hall C, Jha S (2006) NO x reduction from biodiesel fuels. Energy Fuels 20(1):376–382

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gavhane RS et al (2020) Effect of Zinc Oxide Nano-additives and soybean biodiesel at varying loads and compression ratios on VCR diesel engine characteristics. Symmetry 12(6):1042

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghadge SV, Raheman H (2005) Biodiesel production from mahua (Madhuca indica) oil having high free fatty acids. Biomass Bioenerg 28(6):601–605

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Habib HM, Ibrahim WH (2009) Nutritional quality evaluation of eighteen date pit varieties. Int J Food Sci Nutr 60(sup1):99–111

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hamada J, Hashim I, Sharif F (2002) Preliminary analysis and potential uses of date pits in foods. Food Chem 76(2):135–137

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoekman SK, Broch A, Robbins C, Ceniceros E, Natarajan M (2012) Review of biodiesel composition, properties, and specifications. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 16(1):143–169

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hussain A et al. Pyrolysis of Saudi Arabian date palm waste: A viable option for converting waste into wealth. 2014.

  • IEA. (2017–18) Oil Market Report. International Energy Agency. Available: https://www.iea.org/oilmarketreport/omrpublic/

  • Khan H et al (2020) Effect of nano-graphene oxide and n-butanol fuel additives blended with Diesel—Nigella sativa biodiesel fuel emulsion on diesel engine characteristics. Symmetry 12(6):961

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soudagar et al. MEM (2020) The potential of nanoparticle additives in biodiesel: A fundamental outset. In: AIP Conference Proceedings, 2020, vol. 2247, no. 1: AIP Publishing LLC, p. 030003.

  • Mahlia T et al (2020) Patent landscape review on biodiesel production: Technology updates. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 118:109526

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manigandan S, Gunasekar P, Devipriya J, Nithya S (2019) Emission and injection characteristics of corn biodiesel blends in diesel engine. Fuel 235:723–735

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mirhashemi FS, Sadrnia H (2020) NOX emissions of compression ignition engines fueled with various biodiesel blends: A review. J Energy Inst 93(1):129–151

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Montgomery DC (2017) Design and analysis of experiments. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Mujtaba M et al. (2020) Ultrasound-assisted process optimization and tribological characteristics of biodiesel from palm-sesame oil via response surface methodology and extreme learning machine-Cuckoo search. Renew Energy

  • Mujtaba M et al (2020a) Comparative study of nanoparticles and alcoholic fuel additives-biodiesel-diesel blend for performance and emission improvements. Fuel 279:118434

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Myers RH, Montgomery DC, Anderson-Cook CM (2016) Response surface methodology: process and product optimization using designed experiments. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Najafi G (2018) Diesel engine combustion characteristics using nano-particles in biodiesel-diesel blends. Fuel 212:668–678

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nancib N, Nancib A, Boudrant J (1997) Use of waste date products in the fermentative formation of baker’s yeast biomass by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biores Technol 60(1):67–71

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nanthagopal K, Ashok B, Tamilarasu A, Johny A, Mohan A (2017) Influence on the effect of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles as an additive with Calophyllum inophyllum methyl ester in a CI engine. Energy Convers Manag 146:8–19

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nanthagopal K, Ashok B, Saravanan B, Patel D, Sudarshan Ba (2018a) An assessment on the effects of 1-pentanol and 1-butanol as additives with Calophyllum Inophyllum biodiesel. Energy Convers Manag 158:70–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2017.12.048

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nazri MKNZ et al (2016) Medical perspectives of the descriptions of the date palm in the Quran. Adv Sci Lett 22(9):2228–2230

    Google Scholar 

  • Nehdi I, Omri S, Khalil M, Al-Resayes S (2010) Characteristics and chemical composition of date palm (Phoenix canariensis) seeds and seed oil. Ind Crops Prod 32(3):360–365

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prabu A, Anand R (2016) Emission control strategy by adding alumina and cerium oxide nano particle in biodiesel. J Energy Inst 89(3):366–372

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Praveen A, Rao GLN, Balakrishna B (2019) The combined effect of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and exhaust gas recirculation on the performance and emission characteristics of a diesel engine. Int J Ambient Energy 40(8):791–799

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rahman M, Kasapis S, Al-Kharusi N, Al-Marhubi I, Khan A (2007) Composition characterisation and thermal transition of date pits powders. J Food Eng 80(1):1–10

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rahman SMA, Masjuki HH, Kalam MA, Abedin MJ, Sanjid A, Sajjad H (2013) Production of palm and Calophyllum inophyllum based biodiesel and investigation of blend performance and exhaust emission in an unmodified diesel engine at high idling conditions. Energy Convers Manage 76:362–367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2013.07.061

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Razzaq L et al (2020) Modeling Viscosity and Density of Ethanol-Diesel-Biodiesel Ternary Blends for Sustainable Environment. Sustainability 12(12):5186

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saafi EB, Trigui M, Thabet R, Hammami M, Achour L (2008) Common date palm in Tunisia: chemical composition of pulp and pits. Int J Food Sci Technol 43(11):2033–2037

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sajith V, Sobhan C, Peterson G (2010) Experimental investigations on the effects of cerium oxide nanoparticle fuel additives on biodiesel. Adv Mech Eng 2:581407

    Google Scholar 

  • Saxena V, Kumar N, Saxena VK (2017) A comprehensive review on combustion and stability aspects of metal nanoparticles and its additive effect on diesel and biodiesel fuelled CI engine. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 70:563–588

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh D, Sharma D, Soni S, Sharma S, Sharma PK, Jhalani A (2020) A review on feedstocks, production processes, and yield for different generations of biodiesel. Fuel 262:116553

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soudagar MEM, Nik-Ghazali N-N, Kalam MA, Badruddin I, Banapurmath N, Akram N (2018) The effect of nano-additives in diesel-biodiesel fuel blends: A comprehensive review on stability, engine performance and emission characteristics. Energy Convers Manage 178:146–177

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soudagar MEM, Nik-Ghazali N-N, Kalam MA, Badruddin IA, Banapurmath NRa (2019) The effects of graphene oxide nanoparticle additive stably dispersed in dairy scum oil biodiesel-diesel fuel blend on CI engine: performance, emission and combustion characteristics. Fuel 257:116015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2019.116015

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soudagar MEM et al (2019) The effects of graphene oxide nanoparticle additive stably dispersed in dairy scum oil biodiesel-diesel fuel blend on CI engine: performance, emission and combustion characteristics. Fuel 257:116015

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soudagar MEM et al (2020) An investigation on the influence of aluminium oxide nano-additive and honge oil methyl ester on engine performance, combustion and emission characteristics. Renew Energy 146:2291–2307

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soudagar MEM, Afzal A, Kareemullah M (2020) Waste coconut oil methyl ester with and without additives as an alternative fuel in diesel engine at two different injection pressures. Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects, 1–19, 2020.

  • Su Y, Zhang Y (2015) Carbon nanomaterials synthesized by arc discharge hot plasma. Carbon 83:90–99

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tewari P, Doijode E, Banapurmath N, Yaliwal V (2013) Experimental investigations on a diesel engine fuelled with multiwalled carbon nanotubes blended biodiesel fuels. Int J Emerg Technol Adv Eng 3(3):72–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Thamaphat K, Limsuwan P (2008) Ngotawornchai B (2008) Phase characterization of TiO2 powder by XRD and TEM. Kasetsart J Nat Sci 42(5):357–361

    Google Scholar 

  • Vellaiyan S (2020) Enhancement in combustion, performance, and emission characteristics of a biodiesel-fueled diesel engine by using water emulsion and nanoadditive. Renew Energy 145:2108–2120

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vellaiyan S, Amirthagadeswaran K (2016) Zinc oxide incorporated water-in-diesel emulsion fuel: Formulation, particle size measurement, and emission characteristics assessment. Pet Sci Technol 34(2):114–122

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Velumani V, Manieniyan V, Sivaprakasam S (2019) Effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in DI diesel engine. ARPN J Eng Appl Sci 14(7):1396–1399

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Venu H, Madhavan V (2016) Effect of nano additives (titanium and zirconium oxides) and diethyl ether on biodiesel-ethanol fuelled CI engine. J Mech Sci Technol 30(5):2361–2368

    Google Scholar 

  • Venu H, Subramani L, Raju VD (2019) Emission reduction in a DI diesel engine using exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) of palm biodiesel blended with TiO2 nano additives. Renew Energy 140:245–263

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Iqbal Z, Mitra S (2006) Rapidly functionalized, water-dispersed carbon nanotubes at high concentration. J Am Chem Soc 128(1):95–99

    Google Scholar 

  • Yesilyurt MK, Aydin M (2020) Experimental investigation on the performance, combustion and exhaust emission characteristics of a compression-ignition engine fueled with cottonseed oil biodiesel/diethyl ether/diesel fuel blends. Energy Convers Manage 205:112355

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yin Z et al (2020) A comprehensive review on cultivation and harvesting of microalgae for biodiesel production: Environmental pollution control and future directions. Biores Technol 301:122804

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

This project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR) at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, under grant no. (G: 276-130-1439). The authors, therefore, acknowledge with thanks DSR for technical and financial support.

Funding

This project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR) at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. King Abdulaziz University, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia

    Omar A. Al-Hartomy, Ahmed Al-Ghamdi & S. Wageh

  2. University of Malaya, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Center for Energy Science, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia

    M. A. Mujtaba

  3. King Abdulaziz University, Center of Nanotechnology, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia

    Javed Iqbal

  4. Menoufia University, Physics and Engineering Mathematics Department, Faculty of Electronic Engineering, Menouf, 32952, Egypt

    S. Wageh

Authors
  1. Omar A. Al-Hartomy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. A. Mujtaba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ahmed Al-Ghamdi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Javed Iqbal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S. Wageh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

MAM, OAA, JI, and SW wrote the manuscript. Most measurements were done by MAM, JI, and OAA. MAM, JI, and OAA participated in the preparation and analysis of results. All authors contributed to discussions and editing of the manuscript. SW and AAG provided overall supervision. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to M. A. Mujtaba or S. Wageh.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Editorial responsibility: Shahid Hussain.

Appendix

Appendix

See Table 12 .

Table 12 Matrix of the experimental design plan and measured values of responses
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Al-Hartomy, O.A., Mujtaba, M.A., Al-Ghamdi, A. et al. Combined effect of Phoenix dactylifera biodiesel and multiwalled carbon nanotube–titanium dioxide nanoparticles for modified diesel engines. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 19, 515–540 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03152-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-021-03152-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation