Performance, combustion and emission analysis of nanoadditive-infused pyrolysis oil–biodiesel blends in a dual-fuel diesel engine

This study explores the utilization of waste cooking oil (WCO) biodiesel and waste tire-derived pyrolysis oil (PO) as alternative fuels in a diesel engine, with the goal of promoting sustainable waste-to-energy conversion. Biodiesel was synthesized from WCO, while PO was extracted from discarded tires. Four fuel blends (P5B5, P10B10, P15B15, and P20B20) were prepared by mixing equal proportions of WCO and PO with diesel at concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%, respectively. Initial tests revealed a decline in engine performance and an increase in emissions with these blends. To mitigate these effects, 100 ppm titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles were added to each blend. The addition of TiO₂ enhanced combustion quality, leading to improved emission profiles and partial recovery of performance parameters. Specifically, TiO₂ enhanced blends exhibited a marginal reduction in brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and a slight increase in brake-specific fuel consumption, but showed significant reductions in hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon monoxide emissions. A moderate increase in nitrogen oxides (NOx) was observed due to higher combustion temperatures and oxygen availability. Among the tested blends, P10B10.TiO₂ and P15B15.TiO₂ offered an optimal balance between performance and emissions. This research promotes sustainable practices by demonstrating the effective conversion of waste materials into valuable energy resources, aligning with the principles of “waste management” and “waste to energy.”.