COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ELECTRICITY GENERATION OF CHLOROPHYLL OF GREEN SPINACH (Spinacia oleracea) AND ALOE VERA (Aloebarbadensis Miller) PLANT.
2Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, P.M.B. 1526 Owerri
1
Abstract:In this study, the potential of chlorophyll from spinach and aloe vera leaves to produce electricity was investigated.Doublesidedcopperplatesofapproximatelythreeincheslongand2incheswidewereusedtoformacopper sheet. Positive and negative sheathed copper leads are soldered onto opposite sides the solar cell. The absorption spectrumoftheextractedchlorophylloftheplantswasmeasuredagainstthespectrumofvisiblelightfrom350nmto750 nm using scanning spectrophotometer. The highest absorbance for chlorophyll from spinach was 4.438 at 352 nm while the least was at 0.298 at 750 nm. Chlorophyll from aloe vera had the highest absorbance rate of 3.546 at 350 nm while least absorbance was 0.546 at 750 nm. Voltmeter and ammeter (V/A) readings of the plants chlorophyll at room temperature and under exposed sunlight at different time intervals (0 6 minutes) were recorded. Aloe vera had higher voltmeterandammeterreadingthanspinachunderroomtemperaturewith1.73voltsand 0.03 amperes respectively.
Spinach generated higher V/A readings under sunlight at time intervals of 0, 2 and 4 mins respectively with 1.74 v and 0.03 a being the highest reading at 0 mins while at 6 mins, aloe vera had a higher volt reading of 1.71v while a constant ampere of 0.01a for both spinach and aloe vera was recored at the same time interval. This study demonstrates that chlorophyllfromtheseplants(spinachandaloevera)hastheabilitytoproduceelectricityatvaryingcapacities.
Keywords:Amperes,Chlorophyll,Energy,Electricity
Energy is the main element for most human activities. Energy is needed to createend products from natural resources (Tiwari&Ghosal,2017).Sincetheuseofenergyresourceshasrelievedusfrommuchdrudgeryandmadeoureffortsmore productive, it is very important to the economic and technology development in the world (Hooi & Nyet, 2013). Unfortunately, most energy source brings a lot of negative effect to the ecosystem and earth climate such as pollution, global warming, acid rain, and radioactive waste (Gilani, 2018). The common consumption energy resource is non renewableenergyresourcesuchasfossilenergy(Walsh,2019).Thoseresourcescannotbeproduced,regeneratedorreused (woodford,2020).Sincethenon renewableenergysourceisnon sustainablenorenvironment friendly,thesolarenergyand biomassandothers renewableenergysources are developed as an effort to substitute the non renewable energy source (Helgi,2013).However,mostofthesolarenergyaswellasthebiomassresourcesarenotusedcommerciallyduetothehigh cost (Heldt, 2015). Therefore, invention of a new type of alternative energy resource is needed to replace thoseexisting energy Chlorophyllresources.isagreenpigmentfoundinallplants,algae,andcyanobacteria(Sapkota,2020).Itisthemaincomponentthat contributed the process of photosynthesis of plant (Walsh, 2019). It is capable to channeling the energy of sunlight into chemical energy (Heldt, 2015). It tends to obtain energy by absorbing the sunlight through process photosynthesis. The molecules of chlorophyll absorb sunlight and use the sunlight energy to synthesize the carbohydrates and oxygen from carbon dioxide, CO2 and water (Wikipedia, 2020). This process is known as photosynthesis which is the basis for sustainingthelifeprocessofallplants(Heldt,2015).Thebasicstructureofchlorophyllisaporphyrin ring (Trapp, 2016). It
INTRODUCTION
Ukaoma, A. A1 ., IWU I2 ., NWACHUKWU N1 ., ADAMU, I1. & Anyanwu. C. O3 .
3 Department of Biotechnology Federal University of Technology, Owerri, P.M.B. 1526 Owerri. ***
Department of Biology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, P.M.B. 1526 Owerri
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“Plantsuseenergyfromthesunintinyenergyfactoriescalledchloroplasts(KhanAcademy,2020).Usingchlorophyllinthe processcalledphotosynthesis;theyconvertthesun'senergy intostorableforminorderedsugarmoleculessuchasglucose.
Theyarelocatedwithinthewallsofthechloroplast,andtheyacttotraptheenergyfromsunlight.Thesecoin likestacksof thylakoids are called grana. These structures are connected with an extensive system of interconnecting tubules which transportsnecessarymaterialstotheproperlocation.
Plantsusetheprocessofphotosynthesisstoconvertsunlightintochemical energyusingspecializedcells(Aparna,2018).
The thylakoid membranes are the structures that actually contain chlorophyll andother pigments that give plants their green color. The thylakoids are arranged in antenna arrays to capture light energy. There are two photosystems called Photosystem I and Photosystem II, and in most plants, both photosystems are usedinanelectrontransportprocess.This yieldsenergyintheformofAdenosinetriphosphateandreducedcoenzymestothestromaofthechloroplasttobeused in the synthesis of carbohydrates (Hooi & Nyet, 2013). The green pigmented chlorophyll has the desirable photovoltaic propertiesthatareutilizedintoday’sorganicphotosyntheticsolarcells.Chlorophyllisalightharvestingpigmentthat absorbs light in the visible spectrum of solar radiation which promotes electron transfer (Wikipedia, 2020). Carotenoids are also an important part of the photosynthetic process (Trapp, 2016). They aid in energy transfer to the chlorophyll molecule, and serve to supplement the light gathering properties of chlorophyll (Aparna, 2018). Explicitly, the overall chemicalequationforplantphotosynthesisisgivenbythefollowingequation: (Aparna,2018)
Inthis doublereplacement reactionnew,morecomplexcompoundsaresynthesizedfromsmallerones.Inthisparticular equation, hv representstheamountofenergyfromaonephotonoflight(Aparna,2018).Twotypesofchlorophyllthatare found throughout organisms with chloroplasts are known aschlorophyll alpha (α) and chlorophyll beta (β) (Sapkota, 2020). These pigment systemsarenecessaryinordertoproperlyabsorbthedifferentpartsofthevisiblesolar spectrum. Onceabsorptionoflightenergyoccursandphotosynthesistakesplace,aprocessknownaselectrontransferbegins(Walsh, 2019). Without the transferofelectrons,noenergywillflowthroughthephotovoltaic system(Trapp, 2016). One way to increaseelectrontransferofchlorophyllistoreplacethemagnesium(Mg)atomwithanothermetalsuchascopper(Cu)or iron (Fe) (Sapkota, 2020). This must be done carefully. The introduction of too much heavymetal will cause damage to sensitiveplantcellsandtissues.Thiswillultimatelyinterrupttheprocessofphotosynthesisandcausethesystemtofailif careisnottaken(Virtanen et al., 2020).
is a stable ring shaped molecule around whichelectronisfreetomigrateandtransferabsorbedenergyfromsunlightby resonanceenergytransfertoaspecificchlorophyllpairinthereactioncenterof thephotosystems,inwhichareasofaleaf containing the molecule will appear green (Wikipedia, 2020). This energy retained by chlorophyll could potentially be usedasanewtypeofrenewableenergysourceandreplacethecommonbatterycellaswhatwemostfrequentlyusedtoday (Wikipedia,2020).
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Electricityistheflowofelectricalpowerorcharge (electrons)inaformofenergy(Bellis, 2018). It is a secondary energy sourcewhichmeansthatwegetitfromtheconversionofothersourcesofenergy,likecoal,naturalgas,oil,nuclear power
Inthisway,carbondioxidefromtheairandwaterfromthesoilinamoredisorderedstateare combinedtoformthemore ordered sugar molecules.” Inside the chloroplasts arestacks of discs called thylakoids (Encyclopedoia Britannica, 2020).
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The Study Area
Collection,METHODS
Chlorophyll Extraction Process and Solar Cell Configuration
Methodology is as reported by Hoerner, (2013). The collected leaf sampleof spinach which is rich in chlorophyll willbetrimmedusingscissorstoremovethepetiole,midrib,andanyleafveins.Theleafbladesarethentrimmedfurther toachievethesmallestsizeofleafwithoutcausingtoomuchdamagetothefragilechlorophyllcells.Next,thebladeparticles willbeplacedintoanErlenmeyerflaskwithsufficientvolumetocontainallthebladepiecesandethanol.Ethanolwill then bepouredintotheflaskcontainingthebladesandtheamountofethanolwillbeenoughtocompletelycovertheleafblades. Theflaskisthenswirledlightlyforapproximately30secondstoensuretheethanolhassaturatedtheplantmatter. Theflaskwillthenbeleftundisturbedforapproximately24hoursinacompletelydarklocation.Themixtureofethanoland leafbladesis runthrougha Buchner flask toseparatetheparticulatematter fromthe chlorophyll containing ethanol and storedincentrifugetubes,withanadditionofacomplimentaryamountofhexane.Thehexanewillensurethe separation ofthechlorophyllfromotherlessdensematerial.
Themixturewillbecentrifugedforapproximately5minutesaround5000rpm,withtheformationoftwodistinct
MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY
The materials used for this particular project are as follows: Erlenmeyer flask, Buchner flask, shallow beaker, centrifuge,centrifugetubes,solder,solderingiron,sheathedcopperwire,anddouble sidedcopperplating.Thechemicals used in this process are Ethanol. The main source of chlorophyll is finely fragmented leaf blades of a chlorophyll rich spinachandAloeveraplant.
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Processing and Authentication of Sample
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The Study Sample
ThesampleusedforthispresentstudyisspinachandAloevera Material Uses
FreshandhealthyplantsampleofspinachandAloeverawillbebought fromReliefmarket,Owerri,ImoStateand authenticatedbyaBiosystematistattheDepartmentofBiology,FederalUniversityoftechnologyOwerri.Theplantsample iswashedgentlyinarunningwatersoastoremovesandparticlesanddebrispriortochlorophyllextraction.
ThispresentstudywascarriedoutattheFederalUniversityofTechnology,OwerriImoState,Nigeria.Owerriisthe capitalcityofImoStatefoundonlongitude50301 Northand70101 East.TheUniversityissituatedbetweenthreevillages Eziobode, Ihiagwa and Obinze. There are two distinct seasons within these area, namely; rainy seasons, which begins in themonthofAprilandlastsuntilOctober,withannualrainfallvaryingfrom1,500 2,200mm(60 80inches),whilethedry seasons is ushered in by harmattan period and are characterized byhot weather and low humidity. The rainy season is associated with very high humidity of about 80 85% with very heavy rainfall. Temperature varies accordingto season between250cto320cinsunnydays.Theforest/vegetationinOwerriisarainforestwithlotsofplantsdiversity,growing underthedescribedclimatic conditions.ThepeopleofOwerriarepredominantlyfarmerswhoproducesmanyagricultural products.However,therearefewtraders,privatebusinessowners, artisans,civilservantsandprofessionalslikedoctors, engineersandlawyers.
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MeasuringRESULTS absorption spectrum for chlorophyll extract Absorption spectrum for spinach Theabsorptionmaximaofspinachchlorophyllsagainstthespectrumofvisiblelightfrom350nmto750nmwere obtainedusingthescanningspectrophotometertoascertaintheabsorptionrate.Thehighestabsorbancewas recorded at 4.438 against 352 nm wavelength while the least was recorded at 0.298against750nmwavelength.Butthepeakfor thegraphis1.602against678nmwhichstartsfrom0.765against642nmand0.494against712nm
Absorbance 350 362 374 386 398 410 422 434 446 458 470 482 494 506 518 530 542 554 566 578 590 602 614 626 638 650 662 674 686 698 710 722 734 746
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Absorption for Aloe vera
Absor
Table 4.1 summarizes the voltmeter/ammeter reading for spinach and aloeveraatroomtemperatureandunder exposedsunlightataparticulartimeinterval.The voltmeter reading at room temperature for Aloe vera was shows slight differencewiththatof spinachwhileunder exposed sunlightspinachisslightly differentfromthatAloevera.Conversely, voltmeterandammeterreadingsdropssimultaneouslybutinsomeinstancesremainstatic. ban 506 518 530 542 554 566 578 590 602 614 626 638 650 662 674 686 698 710 722
The absorption maxima of Aloe vera chlorophylls against the spectrum ofvisible light from 350 nm to 750 nm were obtained using the scanning spectrophotometer to ascertain the absorption rate. The highest absorbance was recordedat3.546against350nmwavelengthwiththeleastat0.546against750nmwavelength andthepeakisat0.817 against678nmwavelength.
spectrum
734 746 Voltmeter/Ammeter Reading for Spinach and Aloe vera
c e 350 362 374 386 398 410 422 434 446 458 470 482 494
Aparna, V. (2018). Photosynthesis. Retrieved from https://www.hindawi.com/ journals/jnm/2017/8734758/#results and discussionMarch9,2021
Discussion Electricityasanessentialformofenergyfornumerouspurposescanbegeneratedfromplantchlorophyll agreen energythatiseco friendlyandrenewable.ThevoltmeterreadingandammeterreadingforspinachandAloeverashowsthat there were flow of current when the set up was closed (Hooi et al., 2017). But the readings for spinach at room temperaturebecameconstantfrom2 6minutes,thereasonfortheconstantmaybeduetopoorillumination,whileunder direct sunlight, as the value of voltmeter reading decreases with time, the value of ammeter reading also decreases. In comparison,thereadingsobtained underdirectisjustdifferslightlyfromthatofroomtemperature,thoughexpectedto be higherduetothefactthatsunlightwillhelpinimprovethecurrentflow.Similarly,thereadingsforAloeveraunderroom temperaturedropsproportionatelybutunderdirectsunlightthereadingsremainconstant.Hence,currentgeneratedfrom thechlorophyll ofspinachandAloevera wereableto powera ledbulbbutmoreeffectiveatseriesconnection. Thisisin agreementwiththeworksofLee et al (2018);Aoki,(2018);Parithra et al (2018). Furthermore,thepeakabsorbanceofspinachandAloeverawerethesame indicatingthattherewasnodifference betweenthem.Butspinachshowsahigherabsorbanceat352nmwhilethatofAloeverawasat350nm(Hooi et al.,2017).
REFERENCES
Aoki, L. (2018). Manufacture of photovoltaic solar cell using plant chlorophyll. Retrieved from https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_recordReport.cfm?Lab=NCER&dirEntryId=187266April15,2021
CONCULSION: Findingsfromthisstudyrevealedthatthevariousplantschlorophyllwereabletoproduceelectricityatvaryingdegrees. Moreresearchshouldbestructuredtowardsoptimizingtechniquestoproduceelectricityinmegawattsandinsustainable quantityusingvariousplantsources.
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Bellis, M. (2018). Electricity: Meaning, Transformation, and Generations. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/what is electricity 4019643March5,2021. Crank, J. (2018). Ways of Generating Green Energy at Home. Retrieved fromhttps://blog.directenergy.com/6 ways to generate green energy at home/March5,2021
Encyclopedia Britannica (2020). Chlorophy. Retrieved fromhttps://www.britannica .com/science/chlorophyll February
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