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Summary The present work investigates the synthesis of a new and highly efficient sodium‐doped nanohydroxyapatite, as a heterogeneous catalyst for the production of fatty acid methyl esters from Schizochytrium algae oil. Sodium nitrate supported on nanohydroxyapatite catalyst was prepared using wet impregnation technique and calcinated at different temperatures. The synthesized nanocatalyst was characterized to determine the structural and morphological properties, using BET, XRD, TGA, FTIR, ICP, and TEM. Characterization results reported that the catalyst calcinated at 900°C exhibits good catalytic property. The catalyst was utilized for the production of biodiesel, under different reaction parameters through transesterification process. Response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) were employed to evaluate the best combination of molar ratio, catalyst concentration, and reaction time for transesterification process. By using point prediction method, the optimum yield of 96% was achieved at the catalyst concentration of 9.5 wt% of oil, 1:12 molar ratio, and 121‐minute reaction time. The physiochemical properties of the biodiesel were determined, and the result suggested that the biodiesel produced met ASTM D6751 standard. The catalyst exhibits good catalytic performance on reusability up to six runs without the loss of molecular activity. Therefore, the synthesized heterogeneous catalyst derived from animal bone could be efficiently used for the biodiesel production.

An experimental investigation was carried out to study the performance, emissions and combustion characteristics of a compression ignition (CI) engine fuelled with waste chicken fat biodiesel with alumina nanoparticles as an additive. The disposal of waste chicken creates environmental pollution, hence it is decided to extract oil from the waste chicken fat and produce biodiesel through transesterification process. As the chicken fat contains 13.6 % free fatty acid (FFA), a pre-treatment process was carried out using Ferric sulphate as a catalyst in order to reduce the FFA content less than 1 % to prevent soap formation during the process. Potassium hydroxide was used as catalysts for the effective conversion of triglycerides of waste chicken fat into methyl ester. Various diesel-biodiesel-alumina blends were prepared by varying the biodiesel proportions of 20 and 40 % by volume and 25 and 50 ppm of alumina nanoparticles to study its operating characteristics on a computerized single cylinder, constant speed CI engine. Aluminium oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles were used as fuel born catalyst in order to enhance the combustion characteristics and reduce the harmful emissions. The engine test results showed less improvement in brake thermal efficiency and significant reduction on the hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide emissions. However, higher nitrogen oxide emissions were recorded due to the increase in combustion temperature as the nanoparticles enhanced the surface area to volume ratio which improves the thermal conductivity of the fuel blend resulted in improved combustion. Smoke reduction of 52.8 % was observed in B40 fuel blend with 50 ppm alumina nanoparticles under full load conditions. Keywords Alumina nanoparticles Á Waste chicken fat biodiesel Á Performance Á Combustion Á Engine exhaust emissions Abbreviations Al 2 O 3 Aluminium oxide B20Al25 Diesel 80 % ? Biodiesel 20 % ? Alumina nanoparticles 25 ppm B20Al50 Diesel 80 % ? Biodiesel 20 % ? Alumina nanoparticles 50 ppm B40Al25 Diesel 60 % ? Biodiesel 40 % ? Alumina nanoparticles 25 ppm B40Al50 Diesel 60 % ? Biodiesel 40 % ? Alumina nanoparticles 50 ppm bmep Brake mean effective pressure BSFC Brake specific fuel consumption BTE Brake thermal efficiency CI Compression ignition CNT Carbon nanotubes CO Carbon monoxide FFA Free fatty acid HC Hydrocarbon HRR Heat release rate ID Ignition delay NO x Nitrogen oxides PM Particulate matter ppm particles per million RoPR Rate of pressure raise TDC Top dead center WCF Waste chicken fat WCFME Waste chicken fat methyl ester

In the present study, the reinforcing effect of aluminum silicon carbide (Al‐SiC) nanoparticles and chemically treated nanocellulose fiber on thermomechanical and corrosion characteristics of polymer nanocomposites have been investigated. The experimental design was selected as per response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize the effect of Al‐SiC (1.59 to 18.41 wt%), nanocellulose fiber concentration (1.59 to 18.41 wt%) and sonication time (39.55 to 140.45 minutes). From the analysis of variance (ANOVA) results, it was found that the Al‐SiC, nanocellulose fiber concentration and sonication time played a significant role in the mechanical properties. In order to simultaneously maximize the flexural strength, the optimal values of nanocellulose fiber, Al‐SiC nanoparticles, and sonication time was found to be 5 wt%, 5 wt%, and 120 minutes, respectively. From the normal distribution plot, it is found that there is a good agreement between experimental results and developed RSM model. Addition of Al‐SiC (5 wt%) and nanocellulose fiber (5 wt%) in epoxy polymer improved the physical, mechanical, thermal and corrosion resistance properties. The scanning electron microscope analysis on Al‐SiC and nanocellulose fiber reinforced epoxy nanocomposites revealed uniform dispersion of nanocellulose fiber and Al‐SiC in the polymer matrix, which caused for the improved mechanical, and corrosion resistance characteristics.

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