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1 – 10 of 19Paul O. Ukachi, Mathias Ekpu, Sunday C. Ikpeseni and Samuel O. Sada
The purpose of this study is to assess the performance of fuel blends containing ethanol and gasoline in spark ignition engines. The aim is to explore alternative fuels that can…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to assess the performance of fuel blends containing ethanol and gasoline in spark ignition engines. The aim is to explore alternative fuels that can enhance performance while minimizing or eliminating adverse environmental impacts, particularly in the context of limited fossil fuel availability and the need for sustainable alternatives.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used the Ricardo Wave software to evaluate the performance of fuel blends with varying ethanol content (represented as E0, E10, E25, E40, E55, E70, E85 and E100) in comparison to gasoline. The assessment involved different composition percentages and was conducted at various engine speeds (1,500, 3,000, 4,500 and 6,000 rpm). This methodology aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how different ethanol-gasoline blends perform under different conditions.
Findings
The study found that, across all fuel blends, the highest brake power (BP) and the highest brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) were observed at 6,000 rpm. Additionally, it was noted that the presence of ethanol in gasoline fuel blends has the potential to increase both the BP and BSFC. These findings suggest that ethanol can positively impact the performance of spark-ignition engines, highlighting its potential as an alternative fuel.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the ongoing efforts in the automotive industry to find sustainable alternative fuels. The use of Ricardo Wave software for performance assessment and the comprehensive exploration of various ethanol-gasoline blends at different engine speeds add to the originality of the study. The emphasis on the potential of ethanol to enhance engine performance provides valuable insights for motor vehicle manufacturers and researchers working on alternative fuel solutions.
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Munir Ahmed, Muhammad Shakaib and Mubashir Ali Siddiqui
Combustion of fuel with oxidizer inside a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine forms inevitable oxides of nitrogen (NOx) due to high temperature at different…
Abstract
Purpose
Combustion of fuel with oxidizer inside a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine forms inevitable oxides of nitrogen (NOx) due to high temperature at different locations of the combustion chamber. This study aims to quantify NOx formed inside the combustion chamber using two fuels, a conventional diesel (n-heptane) and a biodiesel (methyl oleate).
Design/methodology/approach
This research uses a computational fluid dynamics simulation of chemically reacting fluid flow to quantify and compare oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in a compression ignition (CI) engine. The study expends species transport model of ANSYS FLUENT. The simulation model has provided the temperature profile inside the combustion chamber, which is subsequently used to calculate NOx using the NOx model. The simulation uses a single component hydrocarbon and oxygenated hydrocarbon to represent fuels; for instance, it uses n-heptane (C7H16) for diesel and methyl-oleate (C19H36O2) for biodiesel. A stoichiometric air–fuel mixture is used for both fuels. The simulation runs a single cylinder CI engine of 650 cm3 swept volume with inlet and exhaust valves closed.
Findings
The pattern for variation of velocity, an important flow parameter, which affects combustion and subsequently oxides of nitrogen (NOx) formation at different piston locations, is similar for the two fuels. The variations of in-cylinder temperature and NOx formation with crank angles have similar patterns for the fuels, diesel and biodiesel. However, the numerical values of in-cylinder temperature and mass fraction of NOx are different. The volume averaged static peak temperatures are 1,013 K in case of diesel and 1,121 K in case of biodiesel, while the mass averaged mass fractions of NOx are 15 ppm for diesel and 141 ppm for biodiesel. The temperature rise after combustion is more in case of biodiesel, which augments the oxides of nitrogen formation. A new parameter, relative mass fraction of NOx, yields 28% lower value for biodiesel than for diesel.
Originality/value
This work uses a new concept of simulating simple chemical reacting system model to quantify oxides of NOx using single component fuels. Simplification has captured required fluid flow data to analyse NOx emission from CI engine while reducing computational time and expensive experimental tests.
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P.C. Sarkar, Ammayappan Lakshmanan and Niranjan Kumar
The purpose of this study is to enhance the functional properties of Hessian fabric through resin finishing. Hessian bags made of lignocellulosic jute fiber are commonly used to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to enhance the functional properties of Hessian fabric through resin finishing. Hessian bags made of lignocellulosic jute fiber are commonly used to pack, store and transport agro-commodities, including horticultural crops such as rice, potato, onion and wheat. However, because of high water affinity, these bags undergo degradation in properties due to moisture release by the stored commodities themselves. Exposure to natural elements, e.g. rain and dew, also causes moisture absorption in hessian bags. Once the bag gets moistened, degradation of jute bags starts due to microbial attack, leading to loss in tensile strength and change in extensibility, leading to ultimate breakage in warp and weft directions of the fabric.
Design/methodology/approach
To overcome the degradation in the functional properties of hessian fabric due to exposure to moisture and microbial attack, the application of semi-synthetic polymeric materials was carried out.
Findings
Tenacity, bursting strength, puncture resistance, tear strength and breaking load, as well as life cycle of resin-treated jute fabric was found to be better than control jute.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no recent reports of resin finishing on jute (hessian) fabric with semi-synthetic resins are presently available, other than coating with rubber.
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Everyone is extremely concerned about environmental protection and health safety due to the rise in living standards. Plant-derived natural dyes have garnered much industrial…
Abstract
Purpose
Everyone is extremely concerned about environmental protection and health safety due to the rise in living standards. Plant-derived natural dyes have garnered much industrial attention in food, pharmaceutical, textile, cosmetics, etc. owing to their health and environmental benefits. The present study aims to focus on the elimination of the use of synthetic dyes and provides brief information about natural dyes, their sources, extraction procedures with characterization and various advantages and disadvantages.
Design/methodology/approach
In producing natural colors, extraction and purification are essential steps. Various conventional methods used till date have a low yield, as these consume a lot of solvent volume, time, labor and energy or may destroy the coloring behavior of the actual molecules. The establishment of proper characterization and certification protocols for natural dyes would improve the yielding of natural dyes and benefit both producers and users.
Findings
However, scientists have found modern extraction methods to obtain maximum color yield. They are also modifying the fabric surface to appraise its uptake behavior of color. Various extraction techniques such as solvent, aqueous, enzymatic and fermentation and extraction with microwave or ultrasonic energy, supercritical fluid extraction and alkaline or acid extraction are currently available for these natural dyes and are summarized in the present review article.
Originality/value
If natural dye availability can be increased by the different extraction measures and the cost of purified dyes can be brought down with a proper certification mechanism, there is a wide scope for the adoption of these dyes by small-scale dyeing units.
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Amirul Syafiq, Vengadaesvaran Balakrishnan and Nasrudin Abd. Rahim
This paper aims to design the nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) coating system which has superhydrophilic property, self-cleaning mechanism and antifog property as well as strong…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to design the nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) coating system which has superhydrophilic property, self-cleaning mechanism and antifog property as well as strong adhesion on glass substrate.
Design/methodology/approach
Two hydrophilic materials have been used such as TiO2 nanoparticles as fillers and hydrophilic copolymer, Pluronic F-127 by using simple sol–gel approach. The prepared solution was applied onto glass through dip- and spray-coating techniques and then left for drying at ambient temperature.
Findings
The nano-TiO2 superhydrophilic coating has achieved the water contact angle of 4.9° ± 0.5°. The superhydrophilic coating showed great self-cleaning effect against concentrated syrup and methylene blue where thin layer of water washes the dirt contaminants away. The nano-TiO2 coating exhibits great antifog performance that maintains high transparency of around 89% when the coated glass is placed above hot-fog vapor for 10 min. The fog droplets were condensed into water film which allowed the transmission of light through the glass. The strong adhesion of coated glass shows no total failure at scratch profile when impacted with scratch load of 500, 800 and 1,200 mN.
Research limitations/implications
Findings will be useful in the development of self-cleaning superhydrophilic coating that is applicable on building glass and photovoltaic panel.
Practical implications
The developed nano-TiO2 coating is developed by the combination of hydrophilic organic copolymer–inorganic TiO2 network to achieve great superhydrophilic property, optimum self-cleaning ability and supreme antifog performance.
Social implications
The findings will be useful for residents in building glass window where the application will reduce dust accumulation and keep the glass clean for longer period.
Originality/value
The synthesis of nano-TiO2 superhydrophilic coating which can be sprayed on large glass panel and cured at ambient temperature.
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Amirul Syafiq, Nasrudin Abd. Rahim, Vengadaesvaran Balakrishnan and A.K. Pandey
This paper introduced the simple synthesis process of self-cleaning coating with fog-resistance property using hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer and nano-calcium…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper introduced the simple synthesis process of self-cleaning coating with fog-resistance property using hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer and nano-calcium carbonate (nano-CaCO3) and titanium dioxide (TiO2).
Design/methodology/approach
The synthesis method of PDMS/nano-CaCO3-TiO2 is based on sol-gel process. The crosslinking between PDMS and nanoparticles is driven by the covalent bond at temperature of 50°C. The 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane is used as binder for nanoparticles attachment in polymer matrix. Two fabrication methods are used, which are dip- and spray-coating methods.
Findings
The prepared coated glass fulfilled the requirement of standard self-cleaning and fog-resistance performance. For the self-cleaning test BS EN 1096-5:2016, the coated glasses exhibited the dust haze value around 20%–25% at tilt angle of 10°. For the antifog test, the coated glasses showed the fog haze value were below 2% and the gloss value were above 85%. The obtained results completely achieved the standard antifog value ASTM F659-06 protocol.
Research limitations/implications
Findings will provide an infrastructure support for the building glass to enhance building’s energy efficiency, cleaning performance and friendly environment.
Practical implications
This study proposed the simple synthesis method using hydrophobic polymer and nano-CaCO3 and nano-TiO2, which can achieve optimum self-cleaning property at low tilt angle and fog-resistance performance for building glass.
Social implications
The research findings have high potential for building company, cleaning building company and government sector. The proposed project capable to reduces the energy consumption about 20% per annum due to labor cost, time-consuming and safety during manual cleaning.
Originality/value
The novel method to develop self-cleaning coating with fog-resistance using simple synthesis process and fabrication method for building glass application.
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Reasmy Raj, Amirul Syafiq, Vengadaesvaran Balakrishnan, Shakeel Ahmad, Nasrudin Abd Rahim, Pouya Hassandarvish, Sazaly Abu Bakar and A.K. Pandey
This paper aims to fabricate a polymer-based polyethylene glycol (PEG) coating with acrylic resin as a binder that can show antiviral activity against the feline coronavirus…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to fabricate a polymer-based polyethylene glycol (PEG) coating with acrylic resin as a binder that can show antiviral activity against the feline coronavirus (FCov) on the glass substrate.
Design/methodology/approach
The PEG/acrylic coating systems of different weight percentages were coated on the glass substrates using the spray-coating method and cured at room temperature for 24 h.
Findings
The coating system containing 20 Wt.% of PEG exhibits the highest antiviral activities as high as 99.9% against FCov compared with other samples.
Research limitations/implications
Findings will be useful in the development of antiviral coating for PPE fabrics by using the simple synthesis method.
Originality/value
Application of PEG as an antiviral agent in the antiviral coating system with high antiviral activities about 99.9%.
Khaled Mostafa and Azza El-Sanabary
The novelty addressed here is undertaken by using tailor-made and fully characterized starch nanoparticles (SNPs) having a particle size ranging from 80 to 100 nm with a larger…
Abstract
Purpose
The novelty addressed here is undertaken by using tailor-made and fully characterized starch nanoparticles (SNPs) having a particle size ranging from 80 to 100 nm with a larger surface area, biodegradability and high reactivity as a starting substrate for cadmium ions and basic dye removal from wastewater effluent. This was done via carboxylation of SNPs with citric acid via esterification reaction using the dry preparation technique, in which a simple, energy-safe and sustainable process concerning a small amount of water, energy and toxic chemicals was used. The obtained adsorbent is designated as cross-linked esterified starch nanoparticles (CESNPs).
Design/methodology/approach
The batch technique was used to determine the CESNPs adsorption capacity, whereas atomic adsorption spectrometry was used to determine the residual cadmium ions concentration in the filtrate before and after adsorption. Different factors affecting adsorption were examined concerning pH, contact time, adsorbent dose and degree of carboxylation. Besides, to validate the esterification reaction and existence of carboxylic groups in the adsorbent, CESNPs were characterized metrologically via analytical tools for carboxyl content estimation and instrumental tools using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) morphological analysis.
Findings
The overall adsorption potential of CESNPs was found to be 136 mg/g when a 0.1 g adsorbent dose having 190.8 meq/100 g sample carboxyl content at pH 5 for 60 min contact time was used. Besides, increasing the degree of carboxylation of the CESNPs expressed as carboxyl content would lead to the higher adsorption capacity of cadmium ions. FTIR spectroscopy analysis elucidates the esterification reaction with the appearance of a new intense peak C=O ester at 1,700 cm−1, whereas SEM observations reveal some atomic/molecules disorder after esterification.
Originality/value
The innovation addressed here is undertaken by studying the consequence of altering the extent of carboxylation reaction expressed as carboxyl contents on the prepared CESNPs via a simple dry technique with a small amount of water, energy and toxic chemicals that were used as a sustainable bio nano polymer for cadmium ions and basic dye removal from wastewater effluent in comparison with other counterparts published in the literature.
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Ziyan Lu, Feng Qiu, Hui Song and Xianguo Hu
This paper aims to solve the problems molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets suffer from inadequate dispersion stability and form a weak lubricating film on the friction surface…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to solve the problems molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets suffer from inadequate dispersion stability and form a weak lubricating film on the friction surface, which severely limits their application as lubricant additives.
Design/methodology/approach
MoS2/C60 nanocomposites were prepared by synthesizing molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets on the surface of hydrochloric acid-activated fullerenes (C60) by in situ hydrothermal method. The composition, structure and morphology of MoS2/C60 nanocomposites were characterized. Through the high-frequency reciprocating tribology test, its potential as a lubricant additive was evaluated.
Findings
MoS2/C60 nanocomposites that were prepared showed good dispersion in dioctyl sebacate (DOS). When 0.5 Wt.% MoS2/C60 was added, the friction reduction performance and wear resistance improved by 54.5% and 62.7%, respectively.
Originality/value
MoS2/C60 composite nanoparticles were prepared by in-situ formation of MoS2 nanosheets on the surface of C60 activated by HCl through hydrothermal method and were used as potential lubricating oil additives.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-10-2023-0321/
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