A study published in Discover Vehicles has found that adding silver nanoparticles produced using an extract of wild garlic to cottonseed biodiesel can improve engine power by 10% at high speeds. However, the improvement comes with a significant increase in harmful exhaust emissions, Bioengineer.org reported.
Researchers Erdal Çılğın and Halis Deviren investigated the effects of adding plant-based silver nanoparticles to biodiesel and tested their impact on engine performance, fuel combustion and exhaust emissions.
The study used Allium tuncelianum, a wild garlic species native to eastern Türkiye, to produce silver nanoparticles through a plant-based process. The researchers examined the fuel blend in an unmodified diesel engine to understand how the additive influenced its operation.
The research is significant as it is the first documented study to use extracts of this particular wild garlic species to produce silver nanoparticles for use in an alternative fuel blend.
Diesel engines are widely used in transport, industrial machinery and other heavy-duty applications because of their reliable performance and efficiency. However, concerns over fuel consumption and air pollution have increased interest in renewable alternatives such as biodiesel.
Biodiesel can be produced from renewable oils and used in existing diesel engines. However, its higher viscosity, lower energy content and slower fuel atomisation can affect combustion and engine performance.
To address these limitations, researchers are exploring the use of metallic and other nanoparticles as fuel additives. These materials can improve heat transfer, help fuel droplets evaporate faster and support more efficient combustion.
Silver nanoparticles are of particular interest because of their catalytic properties, which can help speed up the oxidation of fuel. However, conventional methods of producing these particles may involve harmful chemicals and high temperatures.
The researchers therefore explored a plant-based production method using wild garlic extract. However, the findings indicate that improved engine performance does not necessarily translate into environmental benefits, as the increase in power was accompanied by a sharp rise in harmful emissions.
