The increase in plastic products and disposal poses a severe environmental challenge because of their poor biodegradability and undesirable disposal by landfilling. Recycling is the best possible solution to the environmental challenges implemented by the plastic industry. Pyrolysis is a process that converts waste plastics into pyrolytic oil, and it can be used as fuel in a blended form. The viscosity and lubricity of the LDWP (low-density waste polyethylene) pyrolytic oil were lower than standard diesel. Capparis spinosa methyl ester (CME) is blended and experimented with to overcome the lubricity issue of pyrolytic oil. In this investigation, 5%, 10%, and 15% CME were blended with PD20 (20% LDWP oil + 80% diesel) blend on a volume basis. Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of CME on combustion, performance, and emissions using the combination of CME and PD20 blend tested at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% loading conditions. All three ternary mixtures showed enhanced combustion performance and increased NOx and smoke emissions. Due to better combustion, the efficiency of the blend PCD10 (10% CME + 20% LDWP oil + 70% diesel) was higher than the PD20 blend and significantly closer to diesel. Hence, PCD10 is suggested as an alternative to diesel fuel.
Keywords: Capparis spinosa; Diesel engine; Energy; Performance; Renewable energy; Sustainable practice.
© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.