Abstract:
Environmental pollution associated with petroleum sources of energy has reinvigorated interest in the
need to find “greener” electrical energy alternatives without a net carbon emission into the ecosystem to solve these
problems. This research study analyzed electricity generation through bioelectrolytic reaction from an irish-potato,
pineapple and tomato as electrolyte for the vegetative batteries with Zn/Cu as electrode. Treatments were performed
on samples. In the first treatment, vegetative samples were heated at varied temperatures (19.5-80°C) and at varied
holding times (20-60 min). In the second type, sample tissues were sandwiched between two aluminium plates
through which pulses of ac current were passed at varied frequencies (2.63-100,000 Hz) maintained at 312 mV.
With 108 cm3 of sample, the battery capacities in untreated state were: irish-potato 53.7 mAh, pineapple 84.2 mAh
and tomato 80.4 mAh; heat treated state: irish-potato 66.86 mAh, pineapple 116.4 mAh and tomato 108.8 mAh;
while in electro orated state: irish-potato 68.9 mAh, pineapple 96.0 mAh and tomato 105.67 mAh. All these
capacities were found experimentally to power a LED of forward current 1.44 mA, resistance of 270 H and supply
voltage of 3V. Primary cost analyses showed that electro orated Zn/Cu vegetative battery samples generates portable
energy of 5.74-50.54 cts/Wh, which is 14-124 times more than the currently available dry cell (D-type) cells retailed
at 7.14 Ksh/Wh. Given that irish-potato is ranked fourth (after maize, wheat and rice) in the world and the second
most important food crop after maize in Kenya in terms of abundance, it was recommended as an alternative
vegetative battery.
