Hello everyone.
No acrylic fabrication is required for this
project.
The teflon tape prevents the sealing agent
from interfering with the connection between
the wire and the graphite.
The vinyl tape is optional, but is used to
increase the pressure applied to the connection.
Winding the wire on a slightly smaller mandrel,
improves the fit of the wire on the graphite
rod.
Heat-shrink tubing may also be used to clamp
the wire to the graphite rod, but the teflon
should go on first, to isolate the bare wire
from potentially sulfur-bearing materials.
If desired, candle-wax may be an acceptable
substitute for liquid tape.
This is what the zinc looks like AFTER being
used in the cell.
Excess bicarbonate is stored with the distilled
water to ensure saturation.
Since water is used up in the cell, it may
be advisable to add extra water.
The cathode does not need to be submerged,
except to collect hydrogen by the downward
displacement of water.
The purity of the zinc hydroxide is dependent
on the zinc anode.
The product at the left is contaminated by
residue from the battery, from which the zinc
was obtained.
If only scrap zinc is available, then wet
chemical processing would be the way to go,
since it allows more opportunity for purification.
Zinc hydroxide can be converted to zinc oxide
by calcination.
