Conducted by BatStateU
, Started on 2017 -
Completed on 2017
Completed
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Limited supply of electricity and unelectrification to some extent is a major problem of the Philippines since it is an archipelago and delivery of electricity through cables are not feasible. Finding a solution which is sustainable has been a dilemma. Providing electrical energy has shift from non-renewable sources to the renewable ones due to concerns with the environment. This research focused in providing a greener source of electricity that will bring about the change needed to save both the people and the environment. This study was designed as a comparison between aluminum-air and magnesium-air power cell. Aluminum and magnesium metal were used as the anodes and a designed carbon electrode was utilized as the cathode. The objectives of this study were to determine the maximum and average voltage of the two power cell; to analyze the difference of the quality of recovered water obtained from both cells; to determine the optimum power cell in terms of voltage generated and quality of recovered water; to calculate the extent of weathering and corrosion of the anodes in terms of percent mass loss; and to evaluate the surface morphology of the electrodes after 3 cycles. Carbon electrode were fabricated using activated carbon powder (ACP), conductive carbon black (CCB) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with weight distribution of 75:10:15. Aluminum sheets and magnesium coils were used as the anode. A one cell system was constructed by using acrylic glass container, cathode and anode. Maximum and average voltage of Magnesium-Air power cell (1.85V-1.82V) was comparably higher than Aluminum-Air power cell (0.95V-0.92V) due to high activity of magnesium anode compared to aluminum anode. For the comparison of the quality of the recovered water and seawater of each cell, there was a significant difference in the amount of Na and pH of the two power cell while Cl-, Ca¬2 , Mg2 , Pb2 and Cd2 concentrations were statistically had insignificant differences. For the optimum power cell, Magnesium-Air Cell was best suited for voltage generation. Aluminum-Air power cell was best suited for production of better quality of recovered water as it had a decrease in the Na concentration from 16506.83 ppm to 9985.89 ppm and a more neutral pH of 7.79 than Magnesium-Air power cell which has a pH of 8.89. Magnesium anode having 31.12% mass reduction showed a higher degree of corrosion than Aluminum anode having 0.44% mass reduction. Upon analysis of the surface morphology of the electrodes, there are lesser mesopores present in the carbon electrode after the reaction and there are depositions of ions present. The Scanning Electron Microscopy of both anodes showed presence of erosion with magnesium as the more eroded electrode.