Impact of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Additives in Water Hyacinth/Diesel Biofuel Mixture on CI Engine Performance and Emissions

The integration of diesel and biodiesel, particularly biodiesel derived from water hyacinth, as a combined fuel source has recently emerged as a promising area of study, with a particular focus on the effects of nanoparticle additives. Notably, the reduction of emissions achieved by introducing iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄) to biodiesel has been substantiated. However, the potential impact of blending nanoparticles with the diesel and biodiesel mix on the performance characteristics of a diesel engine has yet to be sufficiently explored. This research undertook performance and emission assessments employing diverse fuel samples in a single-cylinder diesel engine. The thermal brake efficiency metrics for the 50 ppm and 100 ppm iron oxide nanoparticle blends surpassed those of the D80B20 and D60B40 biofuel blends, exhibiting increases of 3.5% and 4.85% for D80B20N50 and D80B20N100, and 6.2% and 7.4% for D80B20N50 and D80B20N100, respectively, in comparison to neat diesel. The carbon monoxide emission levels of the biofuel blends with iron oxide were less than that of neat diesel, with the most significant reduction detected in the D60B40N100 blend. Furthermore, the nitrogen oxide emissions for all nanoparticle blends were lower than those for neat diesel, attributable to a shortened ignition delay and minimized fuel usage during combustion, subsequently leading to a reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions.