Effects of green synthesized copper oxide nanoparticle additive on diesel engine performance and emission characteristics

ABSTRACT

The use of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) as an additive for diesel engines shows much promise in reducing emissions. Because copper is a transition metal, it helps reduce emissions by transferring heat from the engine to the exhaust. In this study, experimental research was carried out to find out the impact of copper oxide (CuO) made from Cherry laurel leaves (Prunus laurocerasus) extract on a diesel engine using a new green synthetic strategy. The existence of synthesized CuO was examined by UV, XRD, SEM, EDS, and FTIR. According to the green synthesis results, a CuO peak was obtained at 330 nm in the UV analysis. In addition, according to XRD, EDS, and SEM analyses, it was seen that CuO had a crystal and circular structure and consisted of 100% CuO. In engine experiments, CuONPs were mixed with diesel at different rates such as 10 ppm and 15 ppm. In the results, the D100 + 15 ppm CuO mix shows a notable decrease in carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions 45.9% and 19.57%, compared to pure diesel at 2000W. Moreover, it was revealed that the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) of the D100 + 15 ppm CuO mixture at 3000 W decreased by 1.80% compared to diesel. However, both smoke and NOx increased with nanoparticles as compared to diesel.

KEYWORDS:

• Green synthesis
• cherry laurel leaves
• copper oxide
• diesel engines
• emission gases

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The authors acknowledge that no financial interest or benefit has been raised from the direct applications of their research.

Additional information

Funding

No financial support was received from any institution or organization for this study.

Notes on contributors

Şennur Merve Yakut

Şennur Merve Yakut obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Bursa Uludağ University, followed by a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Nevşehir Haci Bektas Veli University, Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, with a specialization in environmental research. She then completed her Doctorate in Nanomaterial Applications in Environmental Engineering from Aksaray University, Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences. The author’s primary research areas are wastewater treatment, air pollution, and nanomaterials. She has contributed several research papers in the field of wastewater treatment, environmental pollution, and nanomaterials.

Gülbahar Bilgiç Tüzemen

Gülbahar Bilgiç Tüzemen an Assistant Prof. at the Nevşehir Haci Bektas Veli University, Faculty of Engineering-Architecture, Department of Metallurgy and Material Engineering, Nevşehir. She received his doctoral degree from the Department of Energy Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey, in 2021. Her research interests include renewable and alternative energy, hydrogen generation, and electrochemistry. She has many research articles in the field of energy in internationally indexed journals. She also gives various theoretical and practical courses to undergraduate students at the university in her home country.