SIP Plan Table

(Lemon-Salt electrolyte Battery: Optimization study)

Component Details
Research Title Lemon-Salt electrolyte Battery: Optimization study
Research Objectives 1. Determine the optimal amount of salt that produces the highest voltage
output in a Lemon-Salt electrolyte Battery.
2. Examine the optimal concentration of salt that the initial voltage and the
long-term voltage stability of a lemon-salt electrolyte battery.
3. Varying the amount of salt affect the voltage and current output of a
Lemon-Salt electrolyte Battery.
Research Questions 1. What is the optimal of salt that produces the highest voltage output in a
Lemon-Salt electrolyte Battery?
2. What is the optimal concentration of salt that maximizes both the initial
voltage and the long-term voltage stability of a Lemon-Salt electrolyte
battery over a controlled 7-days testing period?
3. How does varying the amount of salt affect the voltage and current
output of a Lemon-salt electrolyte Battery?
Scope and Limitation 1. The duration of the experiment is limited to 7 days.
2. Other alternative electrolytes or additives are not included in this study.
3. This experiment is conducted in a controlled laboratory classroom
setting.
4. The battery design is limited to single-cell and simple series connections.
Review of Literature [Link]/author/year-electrochemical potential of lemon-salt electrolytes as
alternative energy source/ Ramirez J./ 2020
Variables-electrolyte type (lemon, vinegar), electrode material (zinc-copper),
initial voltage, stability over time
Research design-Comparative experimental research
Sampling technique-convenience sampling – is commonly available lemons and
household vinegar were used.
Materials-lemons, vinegar, NaCl, copper and zinc electrodes, voltmeter,
connecting wires.
Significant findings- lemon-salt electrolyte produced a stable 0.9-1.0 V per cell
with zinc-copper electrodes, performing better than vinegar-based setups over
7 days.
2. Title/author/year- optimization of citrus-based electrolytes for low-cost
batteries/ dela Cruz, M. and Santos, R./ 2018
Variables-type of citrus (lemon, calamansi), salt concentration, voltage output,
duration of power supply.
Research design-experimental research design
Sampling technique-purposive sampling-lemons and calamansi fruits were
selected based on a potverage size and freshness.
Materials-lemons, calamansi, table salt (NaCl), copper and zinc electrodes,
multimeter, wires.
Significant findings-lemon with 3g salt generated the highest and most stable
 voltage compared to other citrus fruits. Higher salt concentration decreased
output due to internal resistance.
3. Title/author/year- effect of salt concentration on the efficiency of lemon
electrolyte batteries/ Ahmed, S. & Lee, C./ 2021
Variables-salt concentration levels (0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%), battery life span,
current output.
Research design- Quantitative laboratory experiment with five treatment
groups, repeated trials for accuracy.
Sampling technique-Random sampling – lemons were randomly selected from a
single market batch to minimize variability.
Materials- Lemons, varying salt concentrations, copper and zinc electrodes,
ammeter, voltmeter, measuring tools.
Significant findings- A 3% salt concentration produced the best voltage output
and battery life. Both low and very high salt concentration were less efficient.
4. Title/author/year- Innovative green energy source using citrus fruits/ Patel, A.
& Kumar, R. / 2019
Variables-Fruit size, electrode distance, number of cells in series, total voltage
output.
Research design- Experimental design focusing on applied energy output.
Sampling technique-Stratified sampling – lemons were grouped by size ( small,
medium, large) to test differences systematically.
Materials- Lemons ( various sizes), copper and zinc electrodes, wires, LED lights,
multimeters
Significant findings- Larger lemons with closer electrode placement generated
more current. Connecting cells in series increased voltage sufficiently to power
small devices.

5. Title/author/year- Voltage stability enhancement in lemon-salt batteries

through electrolyte optimization/ Li, Y. & Chen, W./ 2022
Variables-Electrolyte pH, salt type, voltage decay rate, duration of
power output
Research design- Controlled laboratory experimental research
Sampling technique- Systematic sampling – lemons were chosen in
equal intervals from a bulk supply to measure uniformity.
Materials- Lemons, NaCl and KCI, pH meter, copper and zinc electrodes,
voltmeter, connecting wires.
Significant findings- Adjusting electrolyte pH improved voltage stability.
NaCl maintained higher voltage levels than KCI after 7 days
Methodology Research design- Experimental research design
Variables- Dependent, Independent, and controlled variables
Procedures- Selection of lemons
Rolling the lemons
Salt measurement and application
Insertion of electrodes
Labeling of samples
Initial voltage measurement
Daily voltage monitoring
Replication for accuracy
 Data tabulation
Determination of optimal concentration
Instrument- Fresh Lemons, table salt, zinc nails, copper plates, digital
multimeter, measuring spoons, wires and alligator clips, labels and marker pens,
logbook/ data recording sheets, knife/cutter, beakers/small containers.

Timeline Week 1: Planning and proposal writing

Week 2: Review of Literature
Week 3: materials preparation & setup
Week 4: pilot testing
Week 5: main experimental – Initial testing (day 1)
Week 6: Main experiment – daily data collection ( day 2-7)
After 3 months: data analysis
After a week: conclusion and resort
Budget Copper Wire- php.45.00
Alligator clips- php. 53.00
Galvanized Nail- php. 43.00
Multimeters- php. 445.00
Lemon- php. 55.00 for 3pcs.
Salt- php. 10.00
Bulb/LED- php.235.00
Expected Output The study is expected to demonstrate that a lemon-salt battery can be used as a
simple, low-cost, and eco-friendly power source for small devices. These
findings may serve as a basis for further research in alternative and sustainable
energy sources.
Adviser’s Comment

LEADER- Brenna Kim M. Romero

MEMBERS- Jenalyn O. Magdaraog
Louie Jay P. Odtujan
Irine T. Verzosa
Gianna Clemen G. Sauro
Aaron John R. Esperas
Lianne Philip S. Guardiano

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The use of non-eco-friendly batteries leads to environmental pollution and toxic waste, posing

risks to ecosystems, human health, and wildlife. Hazardous chemicals like lead, mercury, and

cadmium can leak into soil and water, causing harm. Researchers have explored using lemons

and other fruits as electrolytes in batteries, offering a potentially safer, eco-friendly alternative.

However, the high cost of sustainable battery technologies limits accessibility, especially in low-

income or rural communities. The extraction of raw materials like cobalt and nickel also has

significant environmental impacts, including pollution, toxicity, and human rights issues.

2nd paragraph
 This study focuses on optimizing the performance of a lemon salt electrolyte battery,

an alternative power source that uses the natural acidity of lemon juice combined with salt

(sodium chloride) to produce electrical energy. The main variables examined are salt

concentration, electrode type, and voltage output. Previous studies have already shown that

lemon juice can act as a weak electrolyte capable of generating small amounts of electricity

due to its citric acid content (Sharma et al., 2022). It is known that the voltage output of a

typical lemon battery ranges between 0.8 to 1.0 volts, depending on the freshness of the

lemon and electrode materials used (Kumar & Singh, 2021). However, what remains unclear

is how varying salt concentrations influence the electrical efficiency, current stability, and

overall duration of power generation. By conducting controlled experiments in a school

laboratory setting, this research seeks to identify the optimal salt-to-lemon ratio that

produces the highest voltage and longest operational time. The study is conducted within the

context of promoting low-cost renewable energy innovation and STEM-based learning in the

Philippines, where access to affordable and eco-friendly energy sources is essential for

sustainable development.

3rd Paragraph

This research is necessary because there is an increasing need for sustainable and low-

cost alternatives to conventional batteries, especially in regions where access to electricity is

limited. Previous experiments by Sharma et al. (2022) showed that a basic lemon battery
using copper and zinc electrodes can generate an average voltage of 0.9 volts per cell, yet this

output is insufficient for most practical applications. Studies also revealed that adding 5–10%

salt (NaCl) to the lemon electrolyte increased conductivity, producing up to 1.1 volts per cell

(Castillo & Ramos, 2023). However, prior research remains limited in optimizing the ideal salt

concentration and electrode spacing to maximize power output. This study aims to fill that

gap by experimenting with varying salt concentrations and measuring voltage, current, and

duration of energy output. According to Kumar and Singh (2021), exploring organic and

natural electrolytes like citrus-based acids can promote green energy technologies and

environmental awareness among students. Therefore, this study not only addresses a

scientific and practical gap but also supports environmental education and the development

of renewable energy solutions at the community level.

By

4th Paragraph

Although previous studies such as that of Lopez et al. (2019) and Santos and Dela Cruz (2021)

explored lemon-based electrolytes, most of them focused only on the voltage outcome

without testing the effects of varying salt concentration and electrode materials. There is still

limited research on how optimizing the mixture ratio of lemon extract and salt can improve

both the voltage output and battery lifespan. In a 2020 experiment by Ramirez and Cruz, a

lemon battery produced an average of 0.9 volts, but the power decreased after 20 minutes,

showing poor consistency. This unresolved issue highlights the need to test different salt
ratios and electrode types to identify the most efficient composition. Furthermore, eco-

friendly batteries are only 12% of the total battery research focus worldwide (Energy Review

Journal, 2023), which shows that sustainable alternatives like lemon-salt batteries remain

underexplored. Therefore, this study aims to answer the research questions: (1) How does

varying the salt concentration affect the voltage and current output of a lemon-salt battery?

(2) Which combination of lemon extract and salt ratio provides the most stable and long-

lasting energy output?

5th Paragraph

The study is based on the Electrochemical Theory of Volta (1800) and explores using lemon

juice as an electrolyte to trigger electron flow with metal electrodes. Building on Lopez et al.

(2019), it aims to test if adding salt improves the reaction, as natural electrolytes can increase

conductivity by up to 18%. The research contributes to understanding how ionic

concentration affects voltage stability in lemon batteries, which have shown unstable voltage

drops (Ramirez & Cruz, 2020). Practically, the study seeks an eco-friendly, low-cost battery

alternative for communities where commercial batteries are expensive, especially in rural

areas relying on improvised power.

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