Effects of the NiFe2O4 nanoadditive on the performance and emission characteristics of diesel engines: ultrasonic green synthesis by T3 hormone

NiFe2O4 nanosheets were successfully synthesized via combined ultrasonic and combustion methods using triiodothyronine (T3) hormone as a biotemplate. Isodiesel and heavy diesel were selected as feedstocks to evaluate the ultrasound-assisted catalytic oxidation process. In this study, we focused on high performance of diesel engine with NiFe2O4 nanosheets. Various conditions such as catalyst dosage, hydrogen peroxide dosage, frequency range and catalyst morphologies of NiFe2O4 were investigated to achieve optimized conditions. High levels of sulfur compounds (98%) were removed using NiFe2O4 catalysts under determined conditions (1.0 g L-1 catalyst, O/S mole ratio = 2, frequency = 40 kHz and morphology of the nanocatalyst = nanosheets). The nickel ferrite nano additive was mixed with isodiesel and heavy diesel using an ultrasonicator device to achieve better stability. The results indicated that under the optimum amount (1% w/v), the NiFe2O4 nanostructure is the best additive to reduce NO x , CO, HC and smoke emission in diesel engines. Moreover, a change in the flash point and viscosity of diesel fuels was observed with the addition of nanosheets. NiFe2O4 could be recycled 3 times without a significant decrease in catalyst activity.