Enhancing engine oil performance using nanoparticles and bio-lubricants as additives

Contributions to the growing environmental concerns by internal combustion engines (ICEs) is the impetus of this research. Therefore, the tribological behavior of lubricants formulated with nano/mineral, nano/bio, and bio/mineral combinations were investigated for the improvements to ICE performance by reducing friction, wear, fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Mineral-based multigrade engine oil (15W40) was chosen as the reference oil to govern the research. Coconut oil (CCO) was chosen with 15W40 as bio and mineral-base stocks respectively for sample formulations. Graphene (G), Al2O3, TiO2, Al2O3/G, TiO2/G and TiO2/reduced graphene oxide (r-GO) were utilized as nano-additives to blend with both mineral and bio-based formulations. Identity of the selected nanomaterials were confirmed using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman analyses. Identified substandard of CCO were improved and characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), pour point, titration, viscometry, simultaneous thermal analysis (STA), rheometric and FT-IR analyses. Factors influencing the dispersion stability of nano/mineral and nano/bio formulations were investigated, and optical absorbance and stability observation tests were used to optimize the performance, with the results presented and discussed. Friction tests were performed using a linear reciprocating tribometer in 3 Phases to analyze the effect of formulated lubricants at elevated temperatures using piston ring and cylinder liner segments of an ICE as test specimens. Wear scars of test specimens were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and 3D non-contact optical profilometry to investigate morphologies, elemental deposition, and surface texture of wear surfaces respectively. Specific fuel consumption and exhaust emissions were tested using a dynamometer test-rig and an exhaust analyzer. Industrial generator was utilized for used engine oil sample analysis

Chemical functionalisation of 2D materials via batch and continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis

2D materials are single or few layered materials consisting of one or several elements with a thickness of a few nanometers. Their unique, tunable physical and chemical properties including ease of chemical functionalization makes this class of materials useful in a variety of technological applications. The feasibility of 2D materials strongly depends on better synthetic approaches to improve properties, increase performance and durability and reduce costs. As such, in the synthesis of nanomaterials, hydrothermal processes are widely adopted through a precursor-product synthesis route. This method includes batch or continuous flow systems, both employing water at elevated temperatures (above boiling point) and pressures to fine tune the physical, chemical, optical and electronic properties of the nanomaterial. Both techniques yield particles with different morphology, size and surface area due to different mechanisms of particle formation. In this review, we present batch and continuous hydrothermal synthesis of a selection of 2D derivatives (graphene, MXene and molybdenum disulphide), their chemical functionalisation as an advantageous approach in exploring properties of these materials as well as the benefits and challenges of employing these processes, and an outlook for further research

Enhancing engine oil performance using nanoparticles and bio-lubricants as additives

Optimize internal combustion engine lubrication to reduce friction and wear leading to improve fuel consumption and to reduce exhaust emission

Transparency and disclosure in supply chains: modern slavery and worker voice

Under section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA), large British companies are required to report on their efforts to monitor and protect the labour rights of their employees and workers on an annual basis. There are however criticisms. First, there is no requirement to audit Modern Slavery statements and this raises question over the credibility of the information that companies report. Second, the MSA is a soft governance tool that allows too much reporting flexibility. While the original intention behind this was to encourage companies to get to know their supply chains in the first place and subsequently focus on improving their reporting over time, there have been general calls to tighten up the non-mandatory reporting requirements of the MSA in the hope that this would in turn result in better quality of reporting. In this report, we present the key findings for our detailed examination of the Modern Slavery Statements of the largest 100 British companies. In order to examine the statements, we devised a detailed index, based on (a) the mandatory and optional aspects of the Modern Slavery Act (2015, s. 54), (b) content recommended by CORE (2017) and (c) additional criteria based on consultation with The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, an internationally based labour rights NGO with an office in London. We focus on 6 information categories. Apart from the General Information, which covers mostly mandatory disclosures, the remaining five categories were optional under section 54. These five categories are: Organisation and Structure of Supply chains, OS; Due Diligence, DD; Risk Assessment, RA; Codes of Conduct/Policies/Strategy(ies), CPS; and Training collaboration, TC. We find that of the five non-mandatory information categories, companies prioritise reporting on two: RA procedures and DD processes These are the categories of most importance to investors. We find that any changes to reporting on these two categories are positively linked to reporting on CPS but not to those on OS and TC. While the level of reporting for all the three latter categories were lower than reporting on RA and DD, the reason why changes in CPS is closely linked those of the RA and DD lies in the way companies report to illustrate their parallel efforts to devise the necessary CPS to support the outcome of RA and facilitate the implementation of DD processes. However, the same could not be said about OS and TC. It was evident that while companies are reluctant to draw attention to potential challenges and problematic areas along their supply chains, they show limited efforts on their training programmes, raising questions over how in-depth corporate efforts have been in changing their culture on labour rights issues and/or perhaps the more serious challenges that they encounter in the process of devising training programmes. While our findings reveal an interesting reporting pattern, we can see areas that we still have very limited knowledge of before any meaningful proposals can be made to move the labour rights reporting agenda forward. We anticipate that there are complexities and challenges that companies face along their supply chains, especially in areas that are outside their national jurisdictions and where the legal framework can be either weak or non-existent and/or regional norms and cultures are in a way that can make it controversial or costly for companies to devise training programmes at local level

Enhancing physicochemical properties of coconut oil for the application of engine lubrication

Engine lubricants require specific physical and chemical properties to function effectively and extend the lifespan of engines. Coconut oil (CCO) is an abundant, renewable, and environmentally friendly bio-based stock that has the potential to be a viable alternative to conventional mineral oil-based lubricants. In this study, we investigated the potential of CCO as a lubricant and formulated different blends with additives to enhance its physicochemical characteristics. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), styrenated phenol (SP) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) were used as additives in varying concentrations. We evaluated the formulations for low pour point (PP), high viscosity index (VI) and total base number (TBN) using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), viscometry, and titration methods (following ASTM D2270 and ASTM D2896–21 respectively). The formulated CCO was also tested for thermal, oxidative, and shear stability using thermogravimetric analysis and rheometry. The optimal formulation exhibited a PP reduction from 21 °C to 6 °C, improved VI from 169 to 206, and a TBN adjustment from 0 to 4.14 mg KOH g-1. The formulated CCO also exhibited superior thermal, oxidative, and shear stability compared to unformulated CCO and reference oil (15W40). Our results suggest that blending CCO with additives can effectively enhance its suitability for engine lubrication, opening up new possibilities for environmentally sustainable and renewable lubricants

Nanostructured Al2O3/Graphene Additive in Bio-Based Lubricant: A Novel Approach to Improve Engine Performance

Personal and industrial use of internal combustion engines (ICEs) is projected to continue until 2050 and beyond. Yet demands to reduce global dependence on petrochemicals and fossil fuel-derived lubricants are increasing and environmentally necessary. New strategies for maintaining and enhancing ICE performance by reducing friction, wear, fuel consumption, and exhaust emissions will reduce the depletion of mineral and fossil fuel reserves and environmental pollution. This paper reports the tribological enhancement of nano-bio lubricants formulated using 2D nanocomposites of Al2O3/graphene as novel additives in coconut oil, whose performance as a lubricant compares favourably with the mineral-based engine oil 15W40. Structural, compositional, and morphological characterization of an Al2O3/graphene nanocomposite synthesized via thermal annealing revealed an ultra-fine particle size (<10 nm) with spherical/laminar morphology and a rich sp2 domain, exhibiting a consistent colloidal stability when formulated as nanofluid. Through the use of various characterisation techniques, including friction and wear analysis we gained valuable insight into the tribological mechanism. Our optimisation of 2D tribological system using coconut oil formulation resulted significant reductions in the coefficient of friction (28%), specific fuel consumption (8%), and exhaust pollutants (CO, SO2, and NOx) emissions. This work demonstrates the benefits of using nano-bio lubricant formulated using coconut oil and 2D based hybrids as base stock and additives, delivering solutions to global challenges such as improving fuel consumption while reducing environmental pollution; solutions that can be transferred to other areas where lubricants are a necessity

A Comprehensive Model for Anaerobic Degradation in Bio-Reactor Landfills

A new generation of sustainable landfill was designed and constructed in the City of Calgary, Canada to achieve sustainable municipal solid waste (MSW) management. This sustainable landfill called “biocell” involves sequential operation of a landfill cell to produce methane gas during the first stage of anaerobic degradation and in-situ composting within the cell footprint. Once methane recovery is minimal, the second stage aerobic degradation initiated by injecting air through methane recovery system and finally landfill is mined for resource and space recovery in the third stage. The resources that can be recovered include compost like material and recyclables such as plastics, metal, and glass. Non-recovered waste but with high energy content can be used as refuse derived fuel. The practice of this approach will no longer require the need to allocate valuable land for new landfills on an on-going basis. There is leachate re-circulation and environmental monitoring to enhance biodegradation in the biocell. The biocell eliminate problems of ground/surface water contamination, landfill gas emission and the need for new land to use for waste disposal. However, currently there is limited knowledge on landfill mining and in order to estimate the best time to initiate landfill mining a comprehensive mathematical model was developed. The model developed solves the mass and energy balance of waste decay, which computes the rate of gas generation, change of gas and gas flux through the system. This study focuses on anaerobic phase of biodegradation of biomass and the degradation of the biomass was assumed to follow first order kinetics. The decomposing bio mass is represented as cellulose for energy balance computation, which is a major constitution of the MSW. The degradation of bio mass due to micro-organisms generates methane, carbon dioxide and water as the final products and the reaction is exothermic. In this model using the decay of waste computed from mass balance and cellulose as equivalent chemical representing the waste a relationship between the mass degraded with time was established. The heat released due to anaerobic decay is computed and hence computes the increase in biocell temperature. Then selecting the representative decay constant for the computed biocell temperature, the decomposition of waste was computed for the next time step. The above computation is continued in order to obtain the landfill settlement, temperature and the movement of landfill gas and leachate

FRP strengthening of concrete structures – design and practical emphasis in Sri Lanka

FRP Strengthening has been developed worldwide as a mean of strengthening and retrofitting concrete structures throughout past few decades. The ever increasing loads on structures and change of use demands higher load carrying capacities. The use of FRP strengthening methods has enabled the use of existing structures thus saving millions, valuable material and valuable time will otherwise be spending on demolition and reconstruction. However lack of design guidance has been a critical issue in this area. The authors have carried-out a design and implementation of FRP strengthening of an existing two storey building to accommodate two more floors and a light weight roof. This paper discusses the design method, testing carried out and practical implications in FRP strengthening of concrete columns

Valuation study for a preference-based quality of life measure for dental caries (Dental Caries Utility Index - DCUI) among Australian adolescents - study protocol.

IntroductionA new health state classification system has been developed for dental caries - Dental Caries Utility Index (DCUI) to facilitate the assessment of oral health interventions in the cost-utility analysis (CUA). This paper reports the protocol for a valuation study, which aims to generate a preference-based algorithm for the classification system for the DCUI.Methods and analysisDiscrete choice experiments (DCEs) will be conducted to value health states generated by the DCUI classification system and preferences for these health states will be modelled to develop a utility algorithm. DCEs produce utility values on a latent scale and these values will be anchored into the full health-dead scale to calculate the quality-adjusted life years in CUA. There is no previous evidence for the most suitable anchoring method for dental caries health state valuation. Hence, we will first conduct pilot studies with two anchoring approaches; DCE including duration attribute and DCE anchoring to worst heath state in Visual Analogue Scale. Based on the pilot studies, the most suitable anchoring method among two approaches will be used in the main valuation survey, which will be conducted as an online survey among a representative sample of 2000 adults from the Australian general population. Participants will be asked to complete a set of DCE choice tasks along with anchoring tasks, basic social-demographic questions, DCUI, a generic preference-based measure and oral health quality of life instrument.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval for this study was obtained from the Human Research Ethics Committee, Griffith University (reference number HREC/2019/550). The generated algorithm will facilitate the use of the new dental caries preference-based measure in economic evaluations of oral health interventions. The results will be disseminated through journal articles and professional conferences