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CHAPTER 5

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter presents the summary of findings based on the experimental

set-ups performed, the conclusions derived from such findings, and

recommendations for further improvement of the experimental set-ups as well as the

device.

Summary of Findings

This section of the study summarizes the result of the experimental set-ups.

Based from the experimentations conducted, the researchers have found out that:

1. Two different types of materials in the cathodic chamber are used in the

experiment: Cell A with tap water and Cell B with rice water. This comparison

aims to determine the cathodic material that can produce a higher amount of

output voltage and current. After five trials, the average voltage rating that

was produced by Cell A was 1.174 V while Cell B produced a higher voltage

rating of 1.55 V, with a difference of 0.376 V. In terms of current rating, the

average current that was produced by Cell A is 0.219 mA while Cell B

produced a higher current rating of 0.517 mA, with a difference of 0.298 mA.

The highest output power that was produced by Cell B is 0.801 mW while the

lowest output power was produced by Cell A with 0.257 mW, suggesting a

difference of 0.544 mW.

Four electrode combinations were tested to identify the combination that

gives a higher electric voltage and current output. The combinations are the
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following (cathode to anode): Cell A with Carbon-Graphite to Carbon-

Graphite, Cell B with Carbon-Graphite to Magnesium, Cell C with Magnesium

to Magnesium, and Cell D with Magnesium to Graphite. After five trials, the

highest average voltage rating produced was 1511.6 mV of Cell D while the

lowest was 77.04 mV of Cell A, with a difference of 1434.56 mV. In terms of

current, the highest average current rating that was produced is 489.6 uA of

Cell B while the lowest is 8.52 mA of Cell C, with a difference of 481.08 uA.

The highest output power was produced by Cell D with 0.718 mW while the

lowest output power was produced by Cell C with 0.00738 mW, suggesting

a difference of 0.7103 mW.

Three different volumes of agar concentration are tested: 5 mg

concentration, 25 mg concentration, and 45 mg concentration. After five

trials, the highest average voltage rating that was produced is 1.5326 V of

the 45 mg concentration while the lowest is 1.5014 V of 5 mg concentration,

with a difference of 0.0312 V. In terms of current, the highest average current

rating that was produced is 0.4698 mA of 45 mg concentration while the

lowest is 0.4656 mA of 25 mg concentration, with a difference of 0.0042 mA.

The highest computed power was produced by the 45 mg concentration with

0.7154 mW while the lowest output power was produced by the 5 mg

concentration with 0.7054 mW, suggesting a difference of 0.01 mW.

2. Ten cells are tested in series connection and five layers containing ten cells

per layer were tested in parallel connection, equivalent to fifty cells in total.

After five trials, the average voltage of a single cell is 1.227 V. The highest

average voltage of a ten-cell series connection is 12.266 V. The average

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current of a single layer is 0.4728 mA. After creating a five-layer parallel

connection, the highest average current is 2.364 mA.

3. The average initial power of the non-operational battery is 28.23 mW. The

battery was discharged in order to determine its efficiency. After 30 minutes,

the average power dropped to 27.1756 mW. After an hour, the power slightly

dropped to 27.992 mW. After six hours, the power rating dropped to 27.418

mW. On its 12th hour, the power dropped to 26.977 mW. On its first 24 hours

of usage, the power dropped to 26.44 mW.

When it comes to the operational battery, the initial power is 32.139 mW. The

battery was discharged with a load in order to determine its efficiency. In 30

minutes, the average power dropped to 31.456 mW. After an hour, the power

slightly dropped to 30.829 mW. After six hours, the power rating dropped to

25.442 mW. On its 12th hour, the power dropped to 23.287 mW. On its first

24 hours, the power dropped to 19.046 mW.

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Conclusions

After conducting series of experiments and thorough analysis of the obtained

results, the researchers conclude the following:

1. There is a significant difference on the output voltage and current using

different materials on the cathode and the three different volumes of agar

concentrations on the salt bridge. The best cathode to use is Cell B with rice

water because it produced the highest output voltage and current with 1.55

V and 0.517 mA while among the three tested concentrations, the 45 mg

concentration gave off the highest output voltage and current with 1.5326 V

and 0.4698 mA.

Also, among the four tested electrode combinations, Cell D with Magnesium

to Graphite produced the highest average voltage with 1511.6 mV and the

highest average power with 0.718 mW .

2. The optimum voltage and current required was achieved by connecting ten

cells in series connection and every ten cells connected in series is equal to

one layer. There are five layers with a total of 50 cells connected in parallel.

The overall optimum voltage and current that was achieved by the battery is

12.266 V and 2.364 mA.

3. Under no-load condition, the average initial power of the battery is 28.23 mW.

After five durations, the power slightly dropped to an average of 0.49376 mW

in each duration tested while under full-load condition, the average initial

power of the battery is 32.139 mW. After five durations, the power drastically

dropped to an average of 5.60656 mW each duration tested. It started to dim

and became inefficient for operation.

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Recommendations

To further improve the study, the researchers would like to recommend the

following:

1. The researchers recommend to use other types of waste water found on

farms for the cathode chamber and other substrates for the anode. There

may be other substances that are capable of producing more power. There

may also be other types of electrodes that are readily available and low-cost

but provides high output ratings for the cells. The researchers also

recommend to have further studies on the effects of variation on the

components of the mediator and to use alternative low-cost material for agar

if possible.

2. Based on the second experiment, adding more layers of cells produces a

higher optimum power. With this, the researchers recommend adding more

layers of cells to achieve a higher optimum power for other outputs and

broaden the application of the system.

3. The researchers recommend to add more time in observing the efficiency

of the device to find out how long the device will last until it is drained.

4. The researchers recommend to ensure that each cell is enclosed tightly to

aid the oxidation-reduction of the bacteria.

5. The researchers recommend the use low-cost materials and smaller

containers to make the cells more economical, and space efficient.