Barotac Viejo National High School

Senior High School

Barotac Viejo, Iloilo

Chapter III

Research Design and Methodology

This chapter consist of two parts (1) Research Design and (2) Methodology.

Part One, Research Design, described the particular research design used and reflected

and the identified application in the study.

Part Two, Methodology, described the different materials with appropriate specifications

and procedures that discussed in detailed the steps and activities performed in the study. It

also enumerated the different tools and equipment with specifications used in the conduction of

the study. It both described the technical and administrative procedures followed in the study.

Research Design

The researchers utilized experimental research to identify the feasibility of making an

alternative ohmic heater out of recyclable materials in killing food pathogens. The ohmic heater

was made first and then used after in heating the treatments. Nine samples were prepared for

each setup by the researchers. The researchers observed the growth of the bacteria by

counting total aerobic plate growth (Colony Forming Units ( cfu ) .

Methodology

The researchers conducted their study with an experimental research. The result of the

experiment was gathered base on the total aerobic plate growth (Colony Forming Units ( cfu )

of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus at different temperature points, in order to

determine the difference among the treatments.

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The study procedure included four Phases. These Stages were: (a) preparation of

materials and equipment; (b) development of ohmic heating setup; (c) culturing and

preparation of bacteria; (d) application; and (e) Data and Data Gathering Procedure

Phase 1: Preparation of Materials and Equipment. In Phase One, The researchers

prepared the materials and equipment in making the ohmic heater and culturing of bacteria for

this research.

The following materials used in the study were glass plane sheets, plywood, electrical lead

wire, soldering iron, heating element, controller device, thermometer ,metal sheet, metal

screws, 36 petri dishes, agar, test tubes, clean tissue, marker, sterile cotton swab, laboratory

gowns, disposable mask, denatured alcohol ,matches/lighter, alcohol lamp, distilled water and

bacteria (E. coli and S. aureus).

Phase 2: Development of Ohmic Heating Setup. In Phase Two, The researchers

developed the Ohmic heater setup. It was divided into two stages the (1) Construction of

Ohmic Heating Chamber; and (2) Construction of Lid. The ohmic heater apparatus is primarily

consists of different parts namely; the Ohmic Heating Chamber, heating element, lid with

temperature controller and thermometer. The material for the making of ohmic heating setup

was gathered. Therefore, the parts of the ohmic heater were made separately and were put in

their fix positions after.

Construction of Ohmic Heating Chamber. The ohmic heater chamber is a rectangular

tank .The tank is the site where the treatments were placed during the heating and the

treatments will have a direct contact with the heating element above. The materials used in the
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construction of ohmic heater chamber were electrically nonconductive, and can with stand the

processed temperature. Glass plane sheet of 5mm thickness is selected. The glass plane sheet

was cut with the height of 12 inches and with the width of 8 inches. The edges of the glass

plane sheets were joined together using silicon glue to prevent the leakage from the chamber.

The silicon glue was then applied also on the outside edges of the tank.

Construction of Lid. The lid served as the cover of the tank. The material used as lid of

the ohmic heater is plywood. The lid has 15 holes where they varied in sizes, one hole for the

thermometer and one for the heating element and the rest were for the screws. The length of

the lid is 14 inches and with the width of 10 inches. The heating element was put to its

designated hole located at center of the lid. It was covered by the thin metal sheet and screwed

to hold and secured the heating element. The temperature controller was put at the edge of the

lid and screwed to fix the position. It was connected to the heating filament and a light bulb

joint by wires for indication that it was operating. Its switch was put at the side of the lid near

the temperature controller with the wire connected to the temperature controller and heating

element to control the over current flow in the circuit without manually unplugging. There was

a wire with male plug for electricity purposes as a source of energy that is connected directly to

the switch.

Phase 3: Culturing and Preparation of Bacteria. In Phase Three, The researchers

prepared the bacteria that they have chosen namely the Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus

aureus for the experiment. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus are the chosen tested

organism for the experiment.

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Preparation and Sterilization of the Culture Medium (Nutrient Agar). Aseptically

transfer 22.4 grams of Nutrient Agar into a 1 liter culture bottle. Added distilled water q.s to

800 ml. mixed thoroughly the suspension using stirring rod. Boiled the suspension to attain

clear even mixture. Autoclaved at 121 o C, 15 psi at 15 minutes. Let the suspension cooled

down at around 45 oC and poured into sterile petri dishes. Let the agar hardened.

Phase 4: Application. In Phase Four, The researchers applied the treatment to the ohmic

heater to undergo the heating process.

Microbiological Assay (Culture Plate Exposure for 1 minute) and Incubation.

Using 0.5 Mc Farland standard with 1.5 x 108 the pure isolates, 18 hour incubated Escherichia

coli and Staphylococcus aureus were inoculated unto sterile, hardened Nutrient culture plates.

The inoculated culture plates were exposed for 1 minute under the alternative ohmic heater in

triplicates at 60 oC, 75 oC and 90 oC respectively. Using electric oven as standard for the testing

procedure, the same set up were also done. A total of 36 petri dishes were incubated upside

down at 35 oC to 37 oC aerobically for 24 to 48 hours.

Phase 5: Data and Statistical Procedure. In Phase Five, The researchers gathered the

data from the result of study and analyzed. It was divided into two stages the (1) Data

Gathering Procedure; and (2) Statistical Data Analysis Procedure.

Data Gathering Procedure .The result of the study were gathered base on the total

aerobic plate count (Colony Forming Units ( cfu ) of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

at different temperature points in the growth, in order to determine the difference among the

treatments.
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Statistical Data Analysis Procedure .To described the data that were gathered, Kruskal -

Wallis test was used for descriptive analysis.

Preparation of Materials and Equipment

Construction of Ohmic Heater Chamber

Construction of Lid

Preparation of Culture Medium

Sterilization of Culture Medium

Microbiological Assay (Culture Plate Exposure for 1 minute)

Incubation (Aerobically for 18 to 24 hours at 35 oC to 37 o C)

Reading and Recording of Total Aerobic Plate Growth

Statistical Analysis

Figure 2. Schematic Flow chart of the construction of alternative Ohmic heater until to the

application and statistical analysis of the data.

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Data Tabulation

Table 1. Total Aerobic Plate Count (Colony Forming Units (cfu ) ) in microliter of Escherichia

coli using Alternative Ohmic Heater as experimental group and commercial electric oven as

control group.

Set Up Temperature R1 R2 R3 Mean

60 Degree Celsius

Experimental

Group 75 Degree Celsius

90 Degree Celsius

60 Degree Celsius

Control

Group 75 Degree Celsius

90 Degree Celsius
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Senior High School
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Table 2. Total Aerobic Plate Count (Colony Forming Units (cfu ) ) in microliter of

Staphylococcus aureus using Alternative Ohmic Heater as experimental group and commercial

electric oven as control group.

Set Up Temperature R1 R2 R3 Mean

60 Degree Celsius

Experimental

Group 75 Degree Celsius

90 Degree Celsius

60 Degree Celsius

Control

Group 75 Degree Celsius

90 Degree Celsius