DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A SYSTEMATIC BANANA PITH WASTE BATTERY

Abstract

This study focus on the generation of electrical energy from Banana pith waste. Banana pith waste battery (BPWB) can offer a solution to tangible energy production that is affordable to rural consumers and increase its potentials. The objective of this study is to develop and improve the electrochemical performance of BPWB which was investigated by comparing two treatment methods, the mass loading, cell separation distance and effect of the moisture content on the cell under 680Ω resistor. Analytical test via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and Phytochemical tests were carried out on the samples. Using copper and zinc electrodes with banana pith as the electrolyte and combining seven BPWB cells in series connection it gave an open circuit voltage (OCV) of 2.25V while in parallel connection it gave OCV of 2.15V and combining the two connections it gave 4.35V. This lit a light emitting diode (LED) for four days before the voltage started dropping gradually. All boiled banana pith waste sample (BBPWS for 10, 20, 40, 60 minutes) had an average voltage and current of 0.4V and 0.58A while fresh banana pith waste sample (FBPWS) performed at an average of 0.3V and 0.45A which was the lowest. From the results obtained, it is evident that BBPWS generated higher voltage and current than FBPWS. The peak mass loading voltage was the 50g loading of banana pith and for the cell separation distance the peak voltage was the 1.5cm. Regulated addition of water per time could elongate the cell life before corrosion occurs. No effect of boiling of the pith was observed for any change in the organic but in the inorganic component of the banana pith when compared with the fresh sample from the analytical tests. According to the results, the use of BPWBs for electricity generation is visible.