National Conference On Recent Trends And Developments In Sustainable Green Technologies Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences www.jchps.com ISSN: 0974-2115 JCHPS Special Issue 7: 2015 NCRTDSGT 2015 Page 92 INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECTS OF NANOCERIUM OXIDE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF CALOPHYLLUMINOPHYLLUM (PUNNAI) BIODIESEL IN A DI DIESEL ENGINE G. Vairamuthu a * S. Sundarapandian b C. Kailasanathan a and B. Thangagiri c a Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sethu Institute of Technology , Virudhunagar –626115, Tamilnadu, India b Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr.Mahalingam College of Engineering & Technology, Pollachi-642 003, Tamil Nadu, India c Department of Chemistry, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi – 626 005, Tamil Nadu India. *Corresponding author: vairamuthu_guru@yahoo.com ABSTRACT An experimental investigation is carried out to establish the performance, combustion and emission characteristics of Calophyllum Inophyllum (Punnai Seed oil) biodiesel and its doped with cerium oxide (CeO2) Nanoparticles blends are presented. The physicochemical properties of the base fuel and the modified fuel formed by dispersing the catalyst nanoparticles by ultrasonic agitation are measured using ASTM standard test methods. The cerium oxide Nanoparticles act as an oxygen donating catalyst which provides oxygen for the oxidation of carbon monoxide and absorbs oxygen for the reduction of nitrogen oxides. Comparisons of the performance of the fuel with and without the CERIA are also presented. The effect of CeO2 nanoparticles additives in the B100+20ppm CERIA contributes for the green combustion and significantly reduces the harmful exhaust gas emissions. Based on the study, modified fuel perform well closer to conventional diesel on the source of experimental work. INTRODUCTION Depletion of petroleum reserves, rising vehicle population, increasing fuel prices, and uncertainties concerning petroleum availability, stringent emission standards, and global warming due to carbon dioxide emissions, have forced the development of alternate energy sources, which are becoming increasingly important. As discussed elsewhere in Prabhakar et al., 2011; Vegetable oils have comparable energy density and cetane number as that of mineral diesel. The Fuel Additives are mainly metal –organic compounds which get dispersed completely in the diesel fuel. Metal additive is added to biodiesel: (i) to shorten the ignition delay, (ii) as stabilizer and anti-oxidant, and (iii) as surfactant. The effect of cerium on the size distribution and composition of diesel particulate matter has been studied by Skillas et al., 2000; indicating a reduction in the accumulation mode, but an increase in ultrafines. Lahaye et al., 1996; studied the effect of cerium oxide on soot formation and postoxidation and observed that the soot yield is not affected significantly by the presence of cerium oxide in the fuel for given oxygen content. The experimental investigations were carried out by adding the dosing levels of CERIA 20ppm with Calophyllum Inophyllum (Punnai Seed oil) biodiesel. The study of the stability of the nanofluid also has been carried out, with the addition of CERIA in the bio diesel, in the present work. MATERIALS AND METHODS Biodiesel properties The properties of the Calophyllum Inophyllum (Punnai Seed oil) biodiesel were experimentally evaluated. Most of the properties of bio-fuels like calorific value, viscosity, density, cetane number are compared as shown in table 1. Table 1. Properties of diesel and Calophyllum Inophyllum (Punnai) biodiesel doped with CERIA S.No Name of the Properties B100 B 100 + 20ppm Diesel ASTM Code 1 Kinematic Viscosity @ 40 ºC in cSt 5.8 4.2 2.83 D2217 2 Gross Calorific Value in kJ/kg 38401 40627 42250 D4809 3 Specific Gravity @ 15 ºC 0.8794 0.8539 0.8298 D445 4 Cetane Number 52 52.5 46 -