To develop and test a sustainable way to produce zinc-based nanoadditives from waste rapeseed oil and explore whether adding small amounts of these particles to Jet A-1 aviation fuel can help reduce harmful nitrogen oxide emissions without affecting the fuel’s essential properties.
Synthesis temperature strongly influenced the structural, morphological and surface properties of the nanoadditives. The formulations remained colloidally stable in Jet A-1 for at least 48 hours, with selected samples maintaining stability for more than four months, while the evaluated fuel properties remained within specification limits. Engine tests using an aviation gas turbine showed that nanoadditives synthesized at 130°C were the most effective in reducing nitrogen oxide emissions. The waste-oil-derived formulation reduced NOx and NO emissions moderately, while the corresponding fresh-oil formulation achieved approximately an 18% reduction in NOx and NO₂ emissions compared with conventional Jet A-1.
Green-synthesized nanoadditives could provide a complementary approach to sustainable aviation fuels for reducing aviation emissions while preserving essential Jet A-1 fuel properties. The low-temperature, solvent-free synthesis using waste oil also offers potential for more sustainable and scalable nanoadditive production.