Enhancing Diesel Engine Performance and Emissions Using Alumina Nanoparticle-Blended Waste Plastic Oil Biodiesel: An Experimental and Predictive Approach

This study investigates how adding alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticles to waste plastic oil (WPO) biodiesel may increase diesel engine performance and reduce emissions of pollutants. WPO, which is made by pyrolyzing plastic waste, shows promise as a replacement for conventional diesel fuel as the hunt for sustainable energy sources heats up. However, high emissions and suboptimal thermal efficiency make it difficult to use in practice. AlO3 nanoparticles were used to overcome these restrictions to improve fuel combustion, increase brake thermal efficiency, and reduce hazardous emissions. A single-cylinder diesel engine was used for experimental assessments using a variety of fuel compositions, such as WPO, biodiesel–diesel blends, and fuels enhanced with nanoparticles. When 50 ppm AlO3 nanoparticles were added, brake thermal efficiency increased by 7.2%, but NOx emissions slightly increased by 6.08%. Conversely, nanoparticle-enhanced WPO biodiesel significantly decreased emissions of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide by 37.84 and 50%, respectively. Additionally, there was a notable 38.21% decrease in smoke emissions. Additionally, an ANN model was developed to forecast engine performance and emission profiles, and it showed remarkable accuracy with correlation coefficients (R) above 0.999 for every parameter evaluated. These findings support the feasibility of using nanoparticle-enhanced WPO biodiesel as a sustainable fuel alternative, enabling the cleaner and more effective operation of diesel engines.