Kristine Mae O.

Madrona
XI-Einstein
Group 15: Identification of Electrolytes in Human Urine as Source of Electricity

Table 1:

Tested
Percentage Amount of
Method Composition of urine as
Author(s) / Classification electricity
used normal urine source of
abundance produced
electricity

14.32 W/m3
Jiseon You, 3-stage
This study (absolute
John MFC/
Nitrogen(N) 12-16% Nitrogenous used the power: 358
Greenman, struvite Compound
electrolytes µW), 11.76
Chris extraction
in human W/m3
Melhuish and Magnesium(Mg) Not Stated Electrolyte
urine to (absolute
and Ioannis Urea Phosphorus(P) 2% Electrolyte
generate power: 294
Ieropulos Hydrolysi
electricity µW) of power
(2014) s
was produced

Table 1 presents the capability of human urine to produce electricity using Microbial fuel

cell. The table revealed that there are electrolytes present in human urine. In identifying the

components of it, 3-stage MFC/struvite extraction and urea hydrolysis was used. Among the

constituents that can be found in human urine, it shows that there are up to 2% electrolytes aside

from other compounds since 4 authors discussed it in their research. This study tested if the
electrolytes that can be found in human urine can produce electricity and it shows a 14.32 W/m3

(absolute power: 358 µW), 11.76 W/m3 (absolute power: 294 µW) of power was produced.

Table 2:

Tested Amoun
Method Composition of Percentage/ Classificatio urine as of electr
Author(s)
used normal urine Abundance n source of city
electricity produce

Electrolysis The none

Amruta Matkar, Water (H2O) 96% Compound researchers

Tanmay Mhetre, only

Urea (CO(NH2)2 2% Compound
Ashish More and analyzed the
Creatinine 0.1% Compound
Neha Gangraj (C4H7N3O) constituents

(2017) of human
Uric Acid Organic
0.015%
(C5H4N4O3) Acid urine

Chloride (Cl-) 0.6% Electrolyte

Potassium (K) 0.6% Electrolyte

Sulphate (SO42−) 0.18% Electrolyte

Phosphate 0.12% Electrolyte

(H3(PO4))
 Sodium (Na)
0.1% Electrolyte
Ammonia (NH3)
0.05% Electrolyte
Calcium (Ca)
0.03% Electrolyte
Magnesium (Mg)
0.01% Electrolyte

Table 2 presents the potential of human urine to be a source of energy. The researchers

used electrolysis to determine the electrolytes found in human urine. The researchers only

determined the electrolytes that the human urine possesses. They did not perform any tests to see

if it can yield electricity.

Table 3:

Percentage Tested
Amount of
Method Composition of / urine as
Author(s) Classification electricity
used normal urine source of
abundance produced
electricity

Liji The none

Thomas Water (H2O) 95% Compound researcher

Urinalysis
(2019) Urea 9.3 % Compound did not test
(CO(NH2)2
the
Creatinine
(C4H7N3O) 0.670 % Compound electricity

conductivit

Sodium (Na) 1.17 % Electrolyte y of the

 Electrolyte

Electrolyte
Potassium (K) 0.750 %
urine
Chloride (Cl-) 1.87 %

Table 3 presents the composition of urine to identify what’s normal. The researcher used

the urinalysis method and identified three types of electrolytes. Though, the researcher did not

test if urine can conduct electricity.

Table 4:

Tested
Percentage Amount of
Method Composition of urine as
/ Classification electricity
Author(s) used normal urine source of
abundance produced
electricity

Samantha Struvite Calcium (Ca) 16 mg/g Electrolyte The none

Antonini, Precipitatio Potassium (K) 2.71mg/g Electrolyte researchers

Stefania n and Air are only

Magnesium(Mg) 104mg/g Electrolyte
Paris, Stripping after the
Sodium (Na) 8.98mg/g Electrolyte
Thomas contents of
Phosphorus(P) 126mg/g Electrolyte
Eichert, urine

specifically

Joachim Sulfur (S) 1.35mg/g Electrolyte Nitrogen

Clemens Nitrogen (N) 53mg/g Nitrogenous and

 compound

Phosphoru
(2014)
s

Table 4 shows the electrolytes that can be found in human urine. The researchers used

struvite precipitation and air stripping to determine the contents of the human urine and to

specifically find if it contents nitrogen and phosphorus. The researchers did not perform any test

to see if the human urine can produce electricity.

In accordant with tables 1-4, Magnesium (Mg) is on the top of the electrolytes list for 11

authors of 3 different studies stated it on their research. The second ones on the list are: Sodium

(Na) and Potassium (K) with both 9 authors who stated it in 3 different researches. Third is

Phosphorous (P) and Calcium (Ca) with both 8 authors in 2 different articles stated it. Lastly is

Chloride (Cl) with 5 states of authors in 2 different researches. In terms of abundance Potassium

(K) and Sodium (Na) are on the top.