Research Projects

The proposed research aims to develop an integrated catalytic and combustion system for the production and performance validation of a sustainable C₈–C₁₈ liquid fuel derived from lignocellulosic biomass. Despite its promise, existing bio-oil production from conventional thermochemical process suffer from high oxygen content, poor stability, and limited combustion efficiency. These persistent issues highlight the critical gaps in catalyst innovation, reactor integration, and performance validation at the engine level. Building upon recent advancements in bio-oil upgrading, the project focuses on a catalyst system tailored to both basic and redox functionalities. The system is designed to drive selective cracking, deoxygenation, and depolymerization reactions, resulting in the production of an engine-compatible, energy-dense fuel and validating its real-time applicability in compression ignition (CI) engines. A fixed-bed catalytic reactor will be designed to convert lignocellulosic biomass into a thermally stable liquid precursor rich in C₈–C₁₈ hydrocarbon chains. To ensure optimal thermal behavior and product selectivity, the reactor will undergo computational modeling and performance refinement using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools. The resulting fuel blends will be experimentally evaluated in a single-cylinder CI engine to assess key parameters such as combustion efficiency, ignition delay, brake thermal efficiency, and regulated emissions (NOₓ, CO, HC, and PM). Beyond performance, the project will holistically examine the comprehensive sustainability of the integrated fuel production-to-utilization pathway, including its potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy return metrics. Thus, it offers a robust interdisciplinary pathway for the deployment of renewable fuels.