Research Projects

Biodiesel has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional petroleum-based diesel with the global transition toward sustainable energy. Produced from renewable feedstocks such as vegetable oils and animal fats, biodiesel offers advantages like lower greenhouse gas emissions, higher biodegradability, and a reduced environmental footprint. In alignment with this vision, the Government of India, under the National Policy on Biofuels (NPB) – 2018, has set an indicative target of achieving 5% biodiesel blending in diesel by 2030. Despite these environmental benefits, the use of biodiesel–diesel blends pose notable challenges to automotive fuel systems. Biodiesel contains reactive oxygenated species, retains more moisture, and may form organic acids factors that collectively increase the risk of corrosion in metallic components. Fuel tanks, pipelines, injectors, and engine parts are particularly susceptible, potentially leading to structural failure, reduced efficiency, and elevated maintenance costs. Globally, the economic impact of corrosion is significant, amounting to 3.4% of GDP as per NACE International. This project aims to develop effective, sustainable corrosion inhibition strategies specifically tailored for biodiesel–diesel fuel systems. The central hypothesis is that certain organic molecules, especially those derived from renewable, biodegradable, and non-toxic or less toxic sources, can act as efficient corrosion inhibitors without compromising fuel quality or environmental safety. Compounds such as fatty acid derivatives, amino acid-based molecules, and other bio-compatible organics are particularly promising as alternatives to conventional, hazardous inorganic inhibitors like chromates, phosphates and so on. To test this hypothesis, a combination of experimental and computational approaches will be employed. Key experiments will include gravimetric corrosion assessments, electrochemical testing, electrochemical scanning and advanced surface characterization (e.g., FESEM, XPS, FTIR) to evaluate inhibitor performance on alloy of iron, aluminium and copper. In parallel, computational modeling using density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations will provide atomic- and molecular-level insights into inhibitor–metal surface interactions, mimicking the real corrosive environment. These simulations will help predict the adsorption behavior, binding energies, and inhibition efficiencies of candidate molecules, thus informing and accelerating the experimental design process. The expected outcome is the identification of high-performance, green corrosion inhibitors that can be integrated into biodiesel–diesel blends. Beyond practical corrosion protection, the project will advance the fundamental understanding of inhibitor-metal surface interactions in complex fuel environments. Ultimately, this research will contribute to the broader goal of enabling clean, reliable, and sustainable energy systems through materials innovation.