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This work reports the possible conversion of beeswax to fuel oil through pyrolysis to produce an alternate and renewable fuel. The kinetics and thermodynamics of the thermal decomposition of beehive wax and pure beeswax is evaluated using a thermogravimetric analyser under non‐isothermal condition at different heating rates of 05, 10, 20°C/min in the temperature range from 30 to 600°C in nitrogen atmosphere. The first order model fitting method (Coats–Redfern method) is applied on the thermogravimetric analysis data of the samples to calculate the kinetic parameters including activation energy and pre‐exponential factor, and thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy change, entropy change, and free energy change of the reaction. The activation energy values were 80.8 and 79.7 kJ/mol of beehive wax and pure beeswax, respectively. Higher heating rate affected not only the temperature of maximum weight loss, but also the apparent activation energy. The enthalpy change and entropy change of the process is found to be in the range of 7 × 104 J/mol and −1.5 × 102 J K−1 mol−1, respectively, which infers the reaction to be endothermic and non‐spontaneous. The samples are subjected to thermal degradation in a semi‐batch reactor at different temperature from 400 to 500°C, with a maximum oil yield of 55.60% at 450°C. The oil product obtained are found to be hydrocarbon rich (88%)with few oxygenated components. The product distribution and composition is found to be significantly affected by the temperature.

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Nanoparticles (NPs) are being incorporated into pristine polymeric matrices as well as recycled waste polymers to prepare new materials with enhanced properties called polymer nanocomposites (PNCs). There has been an accelerating growth in the field of polymer nanocomposites in the last two decades owing to their tunable and enhanced optical, thermal, electrical, magnetic, and mechanical properties, which make them viable and well-suited for various applications. The addition of nanoparticles in the form of nanosheets, nanotubes, nanospheres, quantum dots, etc., to the polymer matrices reduces the drawbacks of polymers like low mechanical strength, weaker chemical resistivity, etc. due to the large surface area to volume ratio of NPs. Moreover, the interaction of nanoparticles with the polymer chain lowers the permeability of gases and increases the water resistance of the polymer. Due to their remarkable capabilities, polymer nanocomposites have attracted significant theoretical interest as well as a large number of practical applications in a variety of scientific and technological domains. This article provides an overview of the various classes of nanoparticles and different fabrication methods used to produce polymer nanocomposites. Additionally, an effort is made to comprehend the properties and applications of polymer nanocomposites in different areas like wastewater treatment, dye removal, heavy metal and gas sensing, optoelectronics, etc.

This work reports the engine performance, emission parameters, and energy‐exergy characteristics of a twin cylinder four‐stroke CI engine fueled with Diesel blended Kaner seed pyrolysis oil (KSPO). KSPO is obtained by the thermal pyrolysis of Kaner (Thevetia peruviana) seed at 600°C in a batch reactor and mixed with diesel in the ratio of 5, 10, 15, and 20%, to use in the engine. Brake thermal efficiency is marginally higher and brake specific fuel consumption is comparatively lower for KSPO‐diesel blend as compared to pure diesel fuel operation. Low carbon monoxide emission and high hydrocarbon, oxides of nitrogen and smoke emission is observed with KSPO—diesel blend. In addition, energy and exergy values of KSPO‐diesel with different blends at different loads are evaluated. Fuel exergy rate of the blended fuel is higher than pure diesel fuel where as exergetic efficiency of the blended fuel found is lower than pure diesel fuel. Moreover, the exergetic efficiency is increased with increasing engine load.

Pyrolysis, the primary process accompanying the thermal degradation of coal, is complicated, and understanding this process requires kinetic analysis followed by product characterization. In this context, the present work involves the study of kinetics and thermodynamics of low‐rank Indian coal from thermogravimetric analysis data followed by batch pyrolysis and subsequent analysis of the liquid products. The thermal degradation of the coal sample has been carried out using a thermogravimetric analyzer from ambient temperature to 1350 K at five different heating rates (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25⁰C/min) under N2 atmosphere. The kinetic triplets (E, A, and n) are evaluated using the order‐based model‐fitting method. The result of this work shows that coal pyrolysis satisfies the first‐order kinetics mechanism with an average activation energy of 62.141 kJ/mol and a pre‐exponential factor of 123.835 min–1. Thermodynamic parameters such as average enthalpy change (ΔH), entropy change (ΔS), and free energy change (ΔG) of coal pyrolysis are calculated to be 56.1716 kJ/mol, –225.524 kJ/mol/s, and 1.6212 × 105 kJ/mol, respectively. A Batch pyrolysis study of coal was carried out in a semi‐batch reactor at different temperatures with an optimum oil yield of 18.94 wt% at 450°C. The chemical composition of pyrolytic oil was investigated by the FTIR and GC‐MS analysis confirmed the presence of D‐Limonene as the major constituent in the coal pyrolytic oil.