Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello,
I am helping my son for science fair and interested in project of energy[electricity]generation from waste banana peel.
I feeled jar with banana peel and kept 2 electrodes[black and red wire ] in jar and other ends of electrods goes the clock's positive and negative pole. Clock should work but it can't. so I think I am missing something,pls suggest me what should I do? I have to submit it within 3 days so need response quick
thanks in advance

Hi sonalinm,

In order for the clock to work, you will need to make sure that you are completing the circuit. In other words, the electrodes you placed in the jar with the banana peels will need to have a direct connection (through the banana peels) in order to allow the electricity to flow properly. If one of the electrodes is touching air instead of banana peel, the circuit will not be complete and the clock cannot run. (Also make sure your electrodes are solidly attached to the connections on the clock. Sometimes the simplest things can cause problems.)

If you are completing the circuit, then perhaps you are not generating enough energy to run the clock. Another good indicator of electricity that requires very little current is a small light bulb. If you think your clock may require a large amount of energy, the light bulb might be a good alternative.

Please write back if you are still having trouble.

Cheers,
Heather

Hi sonalinm,
In addition to Heather's question, do you have a full write-up of the experimental setup or a link to a web page that describes the procedure that you are using? What sort of electrodes are you using? Why did you decide to use banana peels? The more we understand about what you are trying to do, the more we will be able to help.
Thanks,
Chris

Thanks Heather and Chris for your quick response
@ Heather
I tried with light bulb,but it doesn't work. I think banana peel should be femented so biogas[ethanol] will release and clock should work. today Itried adding yeast but still not working
@Chris
I don't know any webpage regarding this project because I did it before 8-9 years for my students,that time clock was working successfully. Banana peel is most cheap among the waste so i selected this project to show how to generate very low cost energy .Should I add HCL or any other acid to do fermentation[I really don't remember the pre-treatment of banana peel] what do u say?

I am using red and black electrode[wire]

Hi sonalinm,
I am still not sure how this apparatus is supposed to work. Are you trying to produce hydrogen with fermentation to power a fuel cell? ( https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p002.shtml ) Or are you trying to create an electrochemical battery? ( https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p010.shtml )
Hopefully one of those links will help. Please let us know.
Thanks,
Chris

I know that we can generate energy due to fermentation in banana peels but what is the exact chemical process behind this because of which electricity is generated?Where do the electrons dissociate??

can somebody help me soon because i dont have much time left.......I'll be glad is somebody responses to my question immediately!!!

Hi!
Going through the bibliography of this link will give you some more detail as to the process by which "trash" can turn into energy:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p027.shtml

Specifically, this website gives more detailed information about the chemical processes that go into this conversion of energy:

http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Bioma ... _Processes

Hope this helps!