Physical Control Techniques

Filtration- is a separation technique used to concentrate or purify substances based on their

physical or chemical properties. It is the first and only sterilization method that eliminates
bacteria by separating the microorganisms from the sterilized medium, but unlike other
sterilization methods, it doesn’t kill or stop the bacteria's ability to reproduce.
4 types of filter

1. Membrane filters are thin filters that are made of cellulose. They can be used for
sterilization during injection by placing the membrane between the syringe and the needle.

2. Seitz filters are usually made of asbestos. They are pad-like and thicker than membrane
filters.

3. Sintered glass filters are an alternative type of filter that are made of glass and hence do
not absorb liquids during filtration.

4. Candle filters are made of clay-like mud. This special mud has tiny pores made by algae.
The microbes get stuck during their travel through the pores.

 
Apparatuses:

 Beaker

 Funnel

 Conical flask

 Filter paper
How does filtration work step by step?

1. Separating insoluble solids. One beaker contains a mixture of solid and liquid, the other
contains a funnel with filter paper.
2. The solid and liquid mixture is poured into the filter funnel.
3. The liquid drips through the filter paper but the solid particles are caught in the filter paper.
Drying- also known as desiccation or dehydration, is a method that has been used
for millennia to preserve foods such as raisins, prunes, and jerky. It works because
all cells, including microbes, require water for their metabolism and survival.
Although drying controls microbial growth, it might not kill all microbes or their
endospores, which may start to regrow when conditions are .more favorable and
water content is restored.