Novelty Potency of Utilizing Local Betel Nut (Areca catechu) of Papua as a Bio-battery to Produce Electricity

Abstract

Papua is the most eastern Province of Indonesia with the lowest electricity supply. In order to partially reduce the dependence of electrical supply, betel nut has been utilized to produce electricity. Betel nut is a local plant or fruit that is initially used for cultural event as a chewing gum. However, due to the less way of recycling the waste of chewing betel nut, making this plant was prohibited to be chewed in Public area. In order to introduce one alternative way of recycling waste of betel nut, the study of bio-battery utilizing betel nut was initiated. Three different pastas prepared were betel nut skin, betel nut liquid waste and betel nut liquid waste and fibers. The pastas have prepared to generate bio-battery with specific voltages, powers, currents and lifetime of bio-battery. Results showed that bio-battery from local plant betel nut has the potency to be used as an alternative source of electricity source. The highest power density and current density produced from pasta of betel nut liquid waste corresponding to a value of 6.67 µW cm -2 and 48 µA cm -2 , respectively. While highest initial voltage observed was from 0.98 mV resulted from betel nut skin pasta. Lifetime of bio-battery was performed while increasing of current observed from time 0 to 56 hours reached maximum peak of 91 µA cm -2 . Moreover, acidity measurement level of bio-battery was also performed with pHs ranges from 4.8 to 7.8. Hence, there is a possibility of utilizing betel nut as a bio-battery.