Study of emission characteristics of a diesel engine using cerium oxide nanoparticle blended pongamia methyl ester

In this work cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticle was added to pongamia methyl ester (PME) to study its impact on emission characteristics in a diesel engine. It was found that CeO2 nanoparticles act as an oxygen shelter owing to its high surface energy content due to its huge surface to volume ratio which expedites the process of combustion. Cerium oxide nanoparticles were mixed with neat PME at a different dose of 50 ppm and 100 ppm on a mass basis. CeO2 nanoparticles are mixed to biodiesel by means of ultrasonicator and magnetic agitator to make sure homogenous. A diesel engine was used for the experimental analysis and fuelled with neat PME, diesel, PME dozed with CeO2 nanoparticles at 50 ppm (PMEA50) and 100 ppm (PMEA100). Experimental results revealed that nanoparticle had an affirmative effect on emissions of PME as CeO2 nanoparticles acted as a catalyst of oxidation. Amid the fuels containing CeO2 nanoparticles, PMEA100 showed an improvement in various emissions as compared to conventional fuels. CeO2 nanoparticles were to be the superior oxidising catalyst as it could effectively reduce CO and HC emissions. NOx emission reduced appreciably owing to the catalytic activity of CeO2 nanoparticles.