Emission control strategy by adding alumina and cerium oxide nano particle in biodiesel

• Nano particle as additive in fuel helps in the better combustion of fuel.
• Alumina and Cerium oxide nano particles are blended with neat Jatropha biodiesel.
• Brake thermal efficiency for the test fuels near to neat diesel is observed.
• Drastic reduction of NO, CO, Unburned HC and smoke opacity are observed for the nano particle blended test fuels.

In order to evaluate the effect of nano particles such as Alumina (Al2O3) and Cerium oxide (CeO2) as additives in Jatropha biodiesel, an experimental investigation is carried out to study the performance and emission characteristics in a single cylinder, four stroke DI diesel engine. Alumina and Cerium oxide nano particles are added with Jatropha biodiesel at mixed proportions forming 10, 30 and 60 parts per million. Significant improvement in the brake thermal efficiency near to that of neat diesel is observed for the nano particle blended test fuels along with the reduction of nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbon and smoke emission by 13%, 60%, 33% and 32% respectively.