Compressive strength of nano concrete materials under elevated temperatures using machine learning.

In this study, four Artificial intelligence (AI) - based machine learning models were developed to estimate the Residual compressive strength (RCS) value of concrete supported with nano additives of Nanocarbon tubes (NCTs) and Nano alumina (NAl), after exposure to elevated temperatures ranging from 200 to 800 degrees. These models were developed via adapting meta- heuristic models including the Water cycle algorithm (WCA), Genetic algorithm (GA), and classical AI models of Artificial neural networks (ANNs), Fuzzy logic models (FLM), in addition to the statistical method of Multiple linear regression (MLR). 156 post heating experimental results available as a literature data (represents four input parameters of temperature change, heat exposure duration, nanomaterial type, and replacement proportion) are used to achieve the study's objective. Results of the developed models demonstrated that ANN and FLM have strong potential in predicting RCS. However, it is often infeasible to generate practical equations that relate input and output variables from these models. Upon analysing the results of the WCA and GA, it was found that WCA yielded the most accurate predictions based on all performance indicators. Furthermore, RCS prediction equations with superior accuracy were derived utilizing the meta-heuristic AI models of WCA and GA, with Mean absolute errors (MAEs) of 3.09 kg/cm² and 3.53 kg/cm² for the training, 1.91 kg/cm² and 2.72 kg/cm² for the validation, and 1.91 kg/cm² and 2.72 kg/cm² for the testing data sets, respectively. Additionally, sensitivity analysis via neural networks weights and SHAP investigation were performed to reveals the impact and relationship of the input variables with the output variables. Both techniques reveal that temperature degree and time of exposure had the highest positive impact on RCS value, followed by NAl and NCTs, in order.

Express Method for Assessing Performance of Lubricant Compositions Containing Nano-Additives Used for Wheel-Rail Pairs.

An express method for assessing the effectiveness of lubricating compositions with nano-additives of various chemical compositions is proposed, and a joint analysis of experimental data on the changes in the value of wear and the level of damage to the surface layers of metallic friction pairs was performed. The variation in the current relative hardness of the sample's surface, the variation in the current relative material damage level, the current value of wear, and the current level of the coefficient of friction were chosen as the key parameters to conduct a performance assessment. The level of material damage in the contact zone was determined using the parameters of the statistical law of hardness value scattering. Based on an analysis of data in the literature, it was observed that the structural changes occurring in metallic materials during long-term, cyclic, static, and frictional loading are correlated with changes in the statistical characteristics of the hardness scattering results. An experimental substantiation of the proposed method was carried out for steel-sliding friction pairs using lubricating compositions based on Greaseline Lithium BIO Rail 000 oil manufactured by AIMOL with nano-additives of copper, magnesium and aluminum alloys, graphite, and two grades of medium-carbon steel. According to the system of indicators presented in this research, the greatest efficiency (in terms of increasing the wear resistance of friction steel pairs) was achieved with lubricating compositions including nano-powder additives made of steel, which have lower hardness. For the friction experiments, where the determining factor was abrasive wear, such lubricants ensured minimal damage and wear to the friction surface, while the value of the friction coefficient was maintained at a level that is optimal for wheel-rail friction pairs.

Investigation of bionano additives in red algae Cyanidioschyzon merolae ultrasonified MgO/MWCNT catalyzed biodiesel in optimized engine performance.

Renewable energy research is burgeoning with the anticipation of finding neat liquid fuel. Ultra sonification assisted biodiesel was derived from red algae Cyanidioschyzon merolae, with biodiesel yield of 98.9%. The results of GC MS of the prepared biodiesel showed higher concentration of methyl palmitate, methyl oleate, and stearate. This composition is appreciable, as this plays significance in desirable pour & cloud point properties. NMR spectrum revealed the ester linkages, presence of olefins, and α methyl position in olefins. Mixture of 30 wt% of biodiesel in diesel exhibited work efficiency, and also exhibited low pour point and, lower viscosity values. CeO2 and Fe2O3 nano particles were bio reduced, and were added as nano additive in biodiesel. 1:1 ratio of CeO2 and Fe2O3 added to biodiesel maximised the combustion ability of fuel owing to the oxygen storage capacity of CeO2. Further, this combination produced a satisfactory calorific value. Imbalanced ratios disrupted the catalytic and oxygen storage effects, reduced the overall energy release and calorific value of the biodiesel blend. Pour point and cetane number value of biodiesel blend ultrasonifacted with 1:1 mass ratio of Fe2O3 and CeO2 was observed to be around -7 °C and 53 °C respectively, and was better than other compositions. 1:1 mass ratio of NPS blended with 30 wt% BD in diesel showed tremendous increase in brake thermal efficiency, torque, and power. HC, NOX, and SOX emissions were reduced by 42.8%, 19.3%, and 57% respectively with 1:1 Fe2O3 and CeO2 mixed biodiesel blend. CeO2 favourably improved the oxygen storage capacity of the fuel, whereas Fe2O3 showed decrease in formation of gums and sediments in biodiesel.

Exergy-energy, sustainability, and emissions assessment of Guizotia abyssinica (L.) fuel blends with metallic nano additives.

This study extensively examined the impact of aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles addition in the biodiesel fuel derived from Guizotia abyssinica (L.) oil. The assessment of fuel blends, which were created by combining nanoparticles and biodiesel was conducted using energy, exergy, and sustainability indices. The highest recorded power output of 2.81 kW was observed for the GAB20A engine operating at 1800 rpm. The experimental results revealed that the GAB20A exhibited the lowest fuel consumption, with a recorded value of 203 g/kWh, when operated at 1600 rpm among all the tested blend fuels. The blend GAB20A exhibited the highest level of energy efficiency at 1600 rpm of 29.5%, as determined by the study. Simultaneously, it was observed that GAB20 exhibited the lowest energy efficiency at 1200 rpm among all the blend fuels at 25%. The emission levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO) were observed to be quite low, although a little rise in carbon dioxide (CO2) was detected. For validation of results the artificial neural network (ANN) was used and an average of 1.703% difference in energy efficiency, 2.246% decrease in exergy efficiency, and 1.416% difference in sustainability index was found.

Acoustic Emission and K-S Metric Entropy as Methods to Analyze the Influence of Gamma-Aluminum Oxide Nanopowder on the Destruction Process of GFRP Composite Materials.

Composites are materials that are widely used in industry, including yachting, railway and aviation. The properties of these materials can be modified by changing the type of reinforcement, the type of matrix, as well as the use of additives in the form of fillers and nanofillers that improve their mechanical or specific parameters. Due to the fact that these materials are often used for important structures, computational models using FEM tools may not be sufficient to determine the actual strength parameters, and what is more, to check them during operation. When designing structures made of composite materials, it is necessary to use high safety factors due to their behavior under several different types of loads, which is still difficult to determine precisely. This situation makes these structures much heavier and characterized by much higher strength properties than those that would actually be needed. In this article, the Kolmogorov-Sinai (K-S) metric entropy was used to determine the transition from the elastic to the viscoelastic state in GFRP (glass fiber reinforced polymer) composite materials without and with the addition of nanoaluminum, during a static tensile test. Additionally, the acoustic emission method was used during the research. This signal was further processed, and graphs were made of the number of events and the amplitude as a function of time. The obtained values were plotted on tensile graphs. The influence of the nano-filler on these parameters was also analyzed. The presented results show that it is possible to determine additional parameters affecting the strength of the structure for any composite materials.

Study on the Pore Structure of Lightweight Mortar with Nano-Additives.

With the development of nanotechnology, nanomaterials have been introduced to improve the engineering properties of cement-based building materials. An abundant number of studies have been carried out on normal-weight concrete using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) or nano-silica (NS) and have proven their effectiveness. Nevertheless, still very few investigations are available in terms of lightweight cement-based materials, especially when MWCNTs and NS are binarily incorporated. Thus, in this study, fly ash cenospheres (FACs) according to cement weight were applied as lightweight fine aggregates to produce lightweight mortar (LWM). MWCNTs at 0.05, 0.15, and 0.45% and NS at 0.2 and 1.0% were binarily added as modifiers. Compressive and flexural strengths were tested to investigate mechanical behaviors. A water absorption test was conducted, together with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), to identify the impacts of the nano-additives on the pore structure of LWM. The following results were obtained: MWCNTs and NS demonstrated synergic effects on enhancing the mechanical properties of LWM. MWCNTs exerted positive impacts on reducing the porosity and improving the pore distribution at low dosages of 0.05 and 0.15%. The hybrid addition of NS further transformed large voids into small ones and introduced closed pores.

Effect of nano-biodiesel blends on CI engine performance, emissions and combustion characteristics - Review.

The situation of greenhouse gas emissions with the effect of severe decline in oil reserves and the increase in energy demand are among the alarming periods to be faced. For this reason, biodiesel is considered as an alternative that can be used in the transport sector. The main reason for this research is to review the Nano-biodiesel application in a diesel engine for the purpose of improving the fuel properties, combustion efficiency of the fuel and reducing the emission. This article critically and in-depth examines the impact of the different nano-biodiesel blends available, as well as highlighting their quality variations and their impact on engine outputs. The impact of Nano-metallic additives such as Al2O3, CeO2, CNTs, CuO, GO, TiO2 and others on fuel quality and combustion was analyzed. Selected and critically archived articles were reviewed. Significant enhancement is reported for nanoparticle-based disperse test fuels in term of brake thermal efficiency. Maximum improvement in BTE of up to 24.7 % with Jatropha biodiesel (B20) blend with 50 ppm Al2O3 nanoparticles was reported. Maximum percentage of 25 % reduction in BSFC was reported for Acacia concinna biodiesel blend with 150 TiO2. The maximum percentages of emission level reduction were 70.94 % for HC, 80 % for CO and 30 % for NOx for methyl ester of waste cooking oil (B10) blend with 100 ppm TiO, JB20 blend with 20 ppm Al2O3 and B10 blend with combined 30 ppm Al2O3 and 30 ppm CeO, respectively. Therefore, it is recommended to further investigate several combinations of biodiesel blends with different metallic oxide nanoparticles at different concentrations. According to the assessment, future studies may focus on hybrid nanoparticles, which are composed of two or more nanoparticles in order to overcome the limitations of nanoparticles to one component, by improving the properties of the nanoparticle, achieving new properties that cannot be obtained by single nanoparticles.

Comparative combustion, emission, and performance analysis of a diesel engine using carbon nanotube (CNT) blended with three different generations of biodiesel.

Nano-additives are being employed in successive generations of biodiesels to increase the performance characteristics and output of diesel engines. In this study, the impact of mixing carbon nanotubes (CNT) with three different generations of biodiesel in a diesel engine is assessed. With 100 ppm of CNT nanoparticles mixed together, pure biodiesels made from first-generation oil (soybean), second-generation oil (neem), and third-generation oil (Nannochloropsis oculata microalgae) are used for the analysis. With an engine load ranging from 0 to 100%, a one-cylinder, four-stroke, direct injection diesel engine is employed. The engine has a water-cooling system, a compression ratio of 17.5:1, and a fuel injection angle of 23° before TDC. The evaluated engines' improved performance and lower emissions serve as proof of the outcomes. The results are evidenced by the lower emissions and higher performance of the tested engines. The biodiesel containing CNT nanoparticles enhanced the cylinder pressure by 0.8-10.69%, the heat release rate (HRR) by 6.38-21.69%, and the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) by 0.32-1.62%. Subsequently, it reduced the brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) by 2.53-8.13%, the brake-specific energy consumption (BSEC) by 1.07-3.77%, the smoke opacity (BSN) by 6.26-12.85%, the particulate matter (PM) emissions by 11.04-18.33%, and the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2.53-8.14% at full engine load. However, an increase in 13.62-18.37% nitrogen emissions (NOx) emissions is also observed with the addition of CNT at 100% load. The investigation supports the use of CNT nano-additives in diesel engines for improved performance and reduced emissions.

Analysis of Selected Organophosphorus Compounds and Nano-Additives on Thermal, Smoke Properties and Quantities of CO and CO2 of Epoxy Materials.

Majority of anthropogenic air pollutants enter the atmosphere as a result of material combustion, industrial production and transport. Fires not only cause air pollution, but also disrupt ecosystems. Knowledge of the flammability parameters and proper flame-retardant modification of materials hinders the origin and spread of a fire, while also protecting against air pollution. The aim of this study was to obtain fire-retardant modifications of the epoxy resin, and then to analyse the effect of the introduced additives on the rate of heat release, the thermokinetic properties and the toxicity of volatile combustible products. The modifiers of the epoxy resin were organophosphorus compounds and aluminium and magnesium hydroxides, with a grain size of 10 nm. The introduced additives were found to be effective flame retardants as they reduced the rate of heat release and the amounts of toxic products of thermal decomposition and combustion. The HRRmax and HRRav values of all fire-retardant modifications were lower compared to the corresponding HRR values of the unmodified epoxy material.

Recent Advances in the Investigation of Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) Nanocomposites: Incorporation of Various Nanofillers and their Properties and Applications.

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is considered the most promising biobased substitute for fossil-derived polymers due to its compostability, biocompatibility, renewability, and good thermomechanical properties. However, PLA suffers from several shortcomings, such as low heat distortion temperature, thermal resistance, and rate of crystallization, whereas some other specific properties, i.e., flame retardancy, anti-UV, antibacterial or barrier properties, antistatic to conductive electrical characteristics, etc., are required by different end-use sectors. The addition of different nanofillers represents an attractive way to develop and enhance the properties of neat PLA. Numerous nanofillers with different architectures and properties have been investigated, with satisfactory achievements, in the design of PLA nanocomposites. This review paper overviews the current advances in the synthetic routes of PLA nanocomposites, the imparted properties of each nano-additive, as well as the numerous applications of PLA nanocomposites in various industrial fields.

Polyacrylonitrile-Polyvinyl Alcohol-Based Composite Gel-Polymer Electrolyte for All-Solid-State Lithium-Ion Batteries.

The three-dimensional (3D) structure of batteries nowadays obtains a lot of attention because it provides the electrodes a vast surface area to accommodate and employ more active material, resulting in a notable increase in areal capacity. However, the integration of polymer electrolytes to complicated three-dimensional structures without defects is appealing. This paper presents the creation of a flawless conformal coating for a distinctive 3D-structured NiO/Ni anode using a simple thermal oxidation technique and a polymer electrolyte consisting of three layers of PAN-(PAN-PVA)-PVA with the addition of Al2O3 nanoparticles as nanofillers. Such a composition with a unique combination of polymers demonstrated superior electrode performance. PAN in the polymer matrix provides mechanical stability and corrosion resistance, while PVA contributes to excellent ionic conductivity. As a result, NiO/Ni@PAN-(PAN-PVA)-PVA with 0.5 wt% Al2O3 NPs configuration demonstrated enhanced cycling stability and superior electrochemical performance, reaching 546 mAh g-1 at a 0.1 C rate.

Green Carbon Dots as Additives of Biopolymer Films for Preserving from Oxidation of Oil-Based Products.

The deterioration of oil-based products during processing, distribution and storage has a major negative impact on the industry from an economic point of view. The spoilage of oil is mainly due to its oxidation which can be triggered by various factors, such as UV light, heating or the presence of impurities that result in the formation of radical species. In this context, several packaging alternatives have recently been developed with the aim to protect and extend the shelf life of oil-based products. This work aimed to study the antioxidant properties of bio-polymer-based films (BPFs) obtained from high methoxylated pectin (HMP) and sodium caseinate (CAS) and enriched with different concentrations of green carbon dots (gCDs), 0.25%, 0.50 and 1% w/w, obtained from apple pomace (APCDs) and rosemary powder (RCDs). The resulting films (gCDs-BPFs) have shown that the presence of gCDs not only modified the surface roughness of the films, but also positively affected their antioxidant properties. The addition of gCDs enhanced the radical inhibiting capacity of the raw BPFs by 42 and 62% for the films containing 1% RCDs and 1% APCDs, respectively. As a proof of the concept, two oil samples (edible and cosmetic) were treated with the obtained antioxidant films, and the results demonstrated that in both types of samples the oxidation process was minimized during the five days of the experiment. These results are promising and suggest that the antioxidant bio-polymer-based films could be excellent candidates for further production of active packaging.

High Methoxyl Pectin and Sodium Caseinate Film Matrix Reinforced with Green Carbon Quantum Dots: Rheological and Mechanical Studies.

Nowadays, proteins and polysaccharides play a fundamental role in the manufacturing of biocompatible materials applied in food packaging. The resulting films have, however, limits associated with the resistance to mechanical stress; therefore, it is important to reinforce the initial mixture with additives that promote the development of stronger molecular links. Carbon dots (CDs) are excellent candidates for this purpose due to the presence of surface functional groups that determine the formation of numerous intramolecular bonds between the charged biopolymers. The present research aims to evaluate the effect of CDs on the mechanical properties of biopolymer films obtained from sodium caseinate (CAS), high methoxyl pectin (HMP) and glycerol used as plasticizers. Green carbon dots (gCDs) were obtained from natural organic sources by green synthesis. The effects of gCDs on the flow behavior and viscoelastic properties of mixed biopolymer dispersions and the thermophysical properties of the corresponded films were evaluated by steady and unsteady shear rheological measurements and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests, respectively. The dynamic mechanical measurements were realized taking into account the parameters of temperature and relative humidity. The results indicate a significant change in the viscosity of the protein-polysaccharide dispersions and the thermomechanical properties of the corresponding film samples reinforced with higher amounts of gCDs.

Experimental data on permeability-related properties of concrete containing nano natural pozzolana as cement replacement.

The addition of supplementary cementitious materials (SCM), particularly at nano level, leads to several benefits, such as the reduced permeability of concrete matrix, which consequently leads to having more durable and sustainable concrete. The dataset presented in the current paper was collected from two series of experiments. The natural pozzolana used in making concrete mixtures is of volcanic origin; i.e. volcanic scoria. The first series was conducted to test nano natural pozzolana-based concrete specimens on water penetration, while the second one was carried out to investigate the chloride ion penetrability of the latter specimens. Concrete specimens were prepared using nano natural pozzolana of two sizes and six replacement levels. Concrete mixes of four water/binder ratios were prepared. All experiments were conducted after five curing times; namely 2, 7, 28, 90 and 180 days. The collected dataset would be beneficial for concrete mix designers, concrete properties analyzers, construction project managers and scientific researchers. An attempt to correlate water permeability with chloride ion penetrability was made.

Rheological Properties of Engine Oil with Nano-Additives Based on MoS2 Materials.

To enhance oil's tribological and rheological properties, various nano-additives are used. An example of such a nano-additive is nanosized molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). Due to its unique properties, MoS2-based materials used as lubricants have attracted significant attention. In our previous work, we developed a novel, scalable, and low-cost method for MoS2-based materials production using an impinging jet reactor. Hybrid nanostructures based on MoS2 and carbon nanomaterials (MoS2/CNMs) decreased the friction factor of the base oil. In the present study, a mathematical model that accounts for the viscous heating effects in rheograms was formulated. The model was used to interpret the results of rheological measurements conducted for the base oil 10W40 and its mixtures with different nanosized lubricant additives. The model of the non-isothermal Couette flow allowed us to correct the rheograms of the engine oils in the region of high shear rates where viscous heating effects become significant. The temperature correlations for the consistency and flow behavior indexes were proposed. The nanohybrid suspensions of MoS2 in the base oil were found to have the lowest apparent viscosity at low temperatures, typical for the cold engine startup.

Fluorescent carbon dots with excellent moisture retention capability for moisturizing lipstick.

Long-lasting moisture retention is a huge challenge to humectants, and effective methods or additives for promote these functions are limited, especially nano-additives. Carbon dots (CDs) have attracted increasing research interest due to its ultra-small size, excellent optical properties and low toxicity, etc. However, most of researches have been focused on the photoexcited CDs and its subsequent photophysical and chemical processes, such as photoluminescence, photodynamic, photothermal and photocatalytic behavior. The intrinsic chemo-physical properties of the pristine CDs are not fully explored. Here, we report an excellent moisture retention capability of a new carmine cochineal-derived CDs (Car-CDs) for the first time. The relationship between the structure of Car-CDs and its moisture retention capability is revealed. More interestingly, the effective applications of Car-CDs in moisturizing lipstick are demonstrated. This work expands the research and application of CDs into a broad, new area, potentially in skin care.

The Effect of Sr-CoFe2O4 Nanoparticles with Different Particles Sized as Additives in CIP-Based Magnetorheological Fluid.

This study investigated the effect of adding strontium (Sr)-doped cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles in carbonyl iron particle (CIP)-based magnetorheological fluids (MRFs). Sr-CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were fabricated at different particle sizes using co-precipitation at calcination temperatures of 300 and 400 °C. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was used to evaluate the morphology of the Sr-CoFe2O4 nanoparticles, which were found to be spherical. The average grain sizes were 71-91 nm and 118-157 nm for nanoparticles that had been calcinated at 300 and 400 °C, respectively. As such, higher calcination temperatures were found to produce larger-sized Sr-CoFe2O4 nanoparticles. To investigate the rheological effects that Sr-CoFe2O4 nanoparticles have on CIP-based MRF, three MRF samples were prepared: (1) CIP-based MRF without nanoparticle additives (CIP-based MRF), (2) CIP-based MRF with Sr-CoFe2O4 nanoparticles calcinated at 300 °C (MRF CIP+Sr-CoFe2O4-T300), and (3) CIP-based MRF with Sr-CoFe2O4 nanoparticles calcinated at 400 °C (MRF CIP+Sr-CoFe2O4-T400). The rheological properties of these MRF samples were then observed at room temperature using a rheometer with a parallel plate at a gap of 1 mm. Dispersion stability tests were also performed to determine the sedimentation ratio of the three CIP-based MRF samples.

Impact of metallic nanoparticles on anaerobic digestion: A systematic review.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is one of the most energy-efficient waste treatment technologies for biodegradable wastes. Owing to the increasing trend of metallic nanoparticle applications in industry, they are ubiquitous to the waste streams, which may lead to remarkable impacts on the performance of the AD process. This review addresses the knowledge gaps and summarises the findings from the academic articles published from 2010 to 2019 focusing on the influences on both AD processes of biochemical hydrogen-generation and methane-production from selected metallic nano-materials. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted with selected indicators to evaluate the metallic nanoparticles' influences on the AD process. The selected metallic nanoparticles were grouped in the view of their chemical formulations aiming to point out the possible mechanisms behind their effects on AD processes. In summary, most metallic nanoparticles with trace-element-base (e.g. iron, cobalt, nickel) have positive effects on both AD hydrogen-generation and methane-production processes in terms of gas production, effluent quality, as well as process optimisation. Within an optimum concentration, they serve as key nutrients providers, aid key enzymes and co-enzymes synthesis, and thus stimulate anaerobic microorganism activities. As for the nano-additives without trace-element base, their positive influences are relied on providing active sites for the microorganism, as well as absorbing inhibitory factors. Moreover, comparisons of these nano-additives' impacts on the two gas-production phases were conducted, while methane-production phases are found to be more sensitive to additions of these nanoparticles then hydrogen-production phase. Research perspectives and research gaps in this area are discussed.

Preparation and Tribological Properties of Carbon-Coated WS2 Nanosheets.

WS2-C is produced from a hydrothermal reaction, in which WS2 nano-sheets are coated with carbon, using glucose as the carbon source. In order to investigate the tribological properties of WS2-C as a lubricant additive, WS2-C was modified by surfactant Span80, and friction tests were carried out on an MRS-10A four-ball friction and wear tester. The results show that Span80 can promote the dispersibility of WS2-C effectively in base oil. Adding an appropriate concentration of WS2-C can improve the anti-wear and anti-friction performance of the base oil. The friction coefficient reached its lowest point upon adding 0.1 wt % WS2-C, reduced by 16.7% compared to the base oil. Meanwhile, the wear scar diameter reached its minimum with 0.15 wt % WS2, decreasing by 26.45%. Moreover, at this concentration, the depth and width of the groove and the surface roughness on the wear scar achieved their minimum. It is concluded that WS2-C dispersed in oil could enter friction pairs to avoid their direct contact, thereby effectively reducing friction and wear. At the same time, WS2-C reacts with the friction matrix material to form a protective film, composed of C, Fe2O3, FeSO4, WO3, and WS2, repairing the worn surface.

Latest development in microalgae-biofuel production with nano-additives.

BACKGROUND: Microalgae have been experimented as a potential feedstock for biofuel generation in current era owing to its' rich energy content, inflated growth rate, inexpensive culture approaches, the notable capacity of CO2 fixation, and O2 addition to the environment. Currently, research is ongoing towards the advancement of microalgal-biofuel technologies. The nano-additive application has been appeared as a prominent innovation to meet this phenomenon. MAIN TEXT: The main objective of this study was to delineate the synergistic impact of microalgal biofuel integrated with nano-additive applications. Numerous nano-additives such as nano-fibres, nano-particles, nano-tubes, nano-sheets, nano-droplets, and other nano-structures' applications have been reviewed in this study to facilitate microalgae growth to biofuel utilization. The present paper was intended to comprehensively review the nano-particles preparing techniques for microalgae cultivation and harvesting, biofuel extraction, and application of microalgae-biofuel nano-particles blends. Prospects of solid nano-additives and nano-fluid applications in the future on microalgae production, microalgae biomass conversion to biofuels as well as enhancement of biofuel combustion for revolutionary advancement in biofuel technology have been demonstrated elaborately by this review. This study also highlighted the potential biofuels from microalgae, numerous technologies, and conversion processes. Along with that, the study recounted suitability of potential microalgae candidates with an integrated design generating value-added co-products besides biofuel production. CONCLUSIONS: Nano-additive applications at different stages from microalgae culture to end-product utilization presented strong possibility in mercantile approach as well as positive impact on the environment along with valuable co-products generation into the near future.