Enhancement of CI Engine Performance and Emission Characteristics Using SiO₂ Nanoparticle-Enriched Biofuel Derived from Waste Paint and Prosopis Juliflora

Enhancement of CI Engine Performance and Emission Characteristics Using SiO₂ Nanoparticle-Enriched Biofuel Derived from Waste Paint and Prosopis Juliflora | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Enhancement of CI Engine Performance and Emission Characteristics Using SiO₂ Nanoparticle-Enriched Biofuel Derived from Waste Paint and Prosopis Juliflora Deepankumar S, Senthil Kumar K L This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6482285/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 11 Aug, 2025 Read the published version in Silicon → Version 1 posted 14 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study presents an integrated approach to converting hazardous industrial paint waste and Prosopis juliflora biomass into renewable fuel via catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and enhancing its combustion performance using silicon dioxide (SiO₂) nanoparticles. The HTL process, optimized at 420°C with 4 wt% acid-activated bentonite catalyst and a 2:1 biomass-to-waste paint ratio, achieved a maximum bio-oil yield of 49.26 wt%. The resulting bio-oil exhibited favorable physicochemical properties, including a high heating value (45.22 MJ/kg), low viscosity (33.29 cSt at 40°C), and minimal oxygen content (1.84 wt%), confirming its suitability for compression ignition (CI) engine applications. Engine trials were conducted using a single-cylinder, four-stroke CI engine operating on diesel-biodiesel blends (DB20 and DB50), with and without the addition of 100 ppm SiO₂ nanoparticles. The SiO₂-enhanced DB20 blend demonstrated superior combustion behavior, marked by increased cylinder pressure, higher net heat release, and a sharper rate of pressure rise. Performance metrics improved significantly, with Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) increasing by 7% and Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) decreasing by 8% compared to the baseline DB20 blend. Emission analysis revealed notable reductions in carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and smoke opacity by 30–45%, attributable to the improved oxidation kinetics and thermal conductivity imparted by the SiO₂ nanoparticles. A marginal increase in nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) was observed due to elevated in-cylinder temperatures. Overall, the study confirms that HTL-derived bio-oil from industrial waste paints and P. juliflora, when blended with diesel and enhanced with SiO₂ nanoparticles, can serve as a high-performance, low-emission alternative fuel for CI engines. This approach offers a sustainable solution for waste valorization, emission reduction, and energy diversification in line with circular economy and green energy goals. Waste Paint Prosopis Juliflora Silicon Dioxide (SiO₂) Biodiesel Nanoparticles Engine Performance Combustion Emissions Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 11 Aug, 2025 Read the published version in Silicon → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 26 May, 2025 Reviews received at journal 20 May, 2025 Reviews received at journal 18 May, 2025 Reviews received at journal 10 May, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 07 May, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 05 May, 2025 Reviews received at journal 05 May, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 05 May, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 05 May, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 05 May, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 05 May, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 02 May, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 02 May, 2025 First submitted to journal 19 Apr, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6482285","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":453132574,"identity":"0ceeda4e-150f-403f-9ae9-0a4220de2edf","order_by":0,"name":"Deepankumar S","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA20lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDCCA3AWM4gpIUO8Fh4GtgSQFh5StPAYQGhCgO9487EHP3fYJe5n7/n86kaNBQ8D++GjG/BpkTxzLN2w90xyYg/P2W3WOceADuNJS7uBT4vBjRwzCd425sQeidxtxjlsQC0SPGb4tdx//03yb1s9UEvOM+Ocf8RoucHDJs3bdhikhflxbhsRWiTPpJkby7YdN+45c8yMObdPgoeNkF/4jh9+9vBtW7Vse3vz48853+rk+NkPH8OrBQjY4AwJFC4xWpg/EKF6FIyCUTAKRiAAAAUwSRjeZsqLAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Erode Sengunthar Engineering College","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Deepankumar","middleName":"","lastName":"S","suffix":""},{"id":453132575,"identity":"b76f9486-0cc6-4a12-b87e-48be6cc940a6","order_by":1,"name":"Senthil Kumar K L","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Bannari Amman Institute of Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Senthil","middleName":"Kumar K","lastName":"L","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-04-19 04:23:06","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6482285/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6482285/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-025-03431-3","type":"published","date":"2025-08-11T15:57:39+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":89310701,"identity":"0092b65d-f976-4744-8ee0-d84c05b44438","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-18 16:09:58","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1262250,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"ManuscriptSilicon12.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6482285/v1_covered_0ebea1d1-af2a-402d-afe3-ba44f26ff112.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Enhancement of CI Engine Performance and Emission Characteristics Using SiO₂ Nanoparticle-Enriched Biofuel Derived from Waste Paint and Prosopis Juliflora","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"silicon","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scon","sideBox":"Learn more about [Silicon](https://www.springer.com/journal/12633)","snPcode":"12633","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/12633/3","title":"Silicon","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Waste Paint, Prosopis Juliflora, Silicon Dioxide (SiO₂), Biodiesel, Nanoparticles, Engine Performance, Combustion, Emissions","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6482285/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6482285/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study presents an integrated approach to converting hazardous industrial paint waste and Prosopis juliflora biomass into renewable fuel via catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and enhancing its combustion performance using silicon dioxide (SiO₂) nanoparticles. The HTL process, optimized at 420\u0026deg;C with 4 wt% acid-activated bentonite catalyst and a 2:1 biomass-to-waste paint ratio, achieved a maximum bio-oil yield of 49.26 wt%. The resulting bio-oil exhibited favorable physicochemical properties, including a high heating value (45.22 MJ/kg), low viscosity (33.29 cSt at 40\u0026deg;C), and minimal oxygen content (1.84 wt%), confirming its suitability for compression ignition (CI) engine applications. Engine trials were conducted using a single-cylinder, four-stroke CI engine operating on diesel-biodiesel blends (DB20 and DB50), with and without the addition of 100 ppm SiO₂ nanoparticles. The SiO₂-enhanced DB20 blend demonstrated superior combustion behavior, marked by increased cylinder pressure, higher net heat release, and a sharper rate of pressure rise. Performance metrics improved significantly, with Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) increasing by 7% and Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) decreasing by 8% compared to the baseline DB20 blend. Emission analysis revealed notable reductions in carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and smoke opacity by 30\u0026ndash;45%, attributable to the improved oxidation kinetics and thermal conductivity imparted by the SiO₂ nanoparticles. A marginal increase in nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) was observed due to elevated in-cylinder temperatures. Overall, the study confirms that HTL-derived bio-oil from industrial waste paints and P. juliflora, when blended with diesel and enhanced with SiO₂ nanoparticles, can serve as a high-performance, low-emission alternative fuel for CI engines. 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