3. Methodology
The objectives of this research are two-fold; to determine the effect of pyramidal packages on microbial
content of milk and to determine the effect of pyramidal packages on the crystal structure of water. In
doing so, the pyramidal packages were filled with samples of fresh milk and water and align it to the
earth’s north-south magnetic field to compare their condition with control milk and water samples kept
inside rectangular prism packages.
Four packages will be manufactured using plastic injection molding machine where two of them are
pyramidal plastic packages with a square base of length 157 mm and height 100 mm with slope angle
about 52 degrees. The volume of the pyramidal packages can be calculated by the formula: volume = 1/3
Bh where b is the area of the base and h the height from the base to the apex. Two rectangular prism
packages with nearly the same volume as the pyramidal packages, the volume of a rectangular prism
packages can be calculated by the formula: volume = l w h where l is the length, w the width and h the
height of the package. The reason for selecting pyramidal and rectangular prism shapes is to compare the
outcomes of the two types of packages.All the four pyramidal packages will be kept in a single room. The distance between each package and
between the room walls will be 2 meters. All packages will be placed on four surfaces identical in height,
size and shape. Before the start of each trial, the room will be fumigated to kill any airborne organisms,
the door and windows will be kept closed for at least 24 hours before the start of each trial. The four
pyramidal packages will be placed on the surfaces with one of the sides being oriented in the magnetic
North-South direction using compass.
In order to determine the influence of Pyramidal packages on the growth of microorganisms in milk, a
research will be conducted on fresh un-boiled cow’s milk samples, the reason for using cow’s milk is due
to the highest ratio of world’s production and consumption, the milk will be put in ice during
transportation from the source to the experimental area to decrease the multiplication ratio of the
microorganisms, the samples will be used in the pyramidal packages and as a control in the rectangular
prism packages. After determination of fat content all packages will be filled by the same milk samples
till reach 75% of the total volume of every package. The determination of fat content will be done by
lactometer on the first and the last day only. The following data: colour, odour, state of the sample
(whether curdled or not), pH value and microorganism count will be collected every day from the milk
samples from both pyramidal and rectangular packages. The determination of microorganisms count will
done by automatic counting device or by the commonly known standard procedures, pH value will be
determined by pH meter and the odour, colour, and state of the sample (curdled or not) will be determined
by visual observations. All results will be subjected to a statistical analysis. The experiments will consist
of three independent trials, each lasting ten days to make the statistical analysis more meaningful by
generating enough data.It is commonly known that the formation of hydrogen bonds between adjacent oxygen and hydrogen
atoms are responsible of controlling most of physical properties of water and ice. Although it is a weak
bond but it plays a significant rule in controlling the structure of water and ice. To determine the effect of
Pyramidal packages on the alteration of water molecular structure, a research will be conducted with the
same methodology as the first objective except the step of the sample preparation and variable
determination of the first objective. The experiment will be conducted on commercial distilled bottled
water; the reason for using distilled bottled water is due to purification process that removes nearly all
contaminants from the water. The water samples will be filled in the pyramidal packages and as a control
in the rectangular prism packages. Firstly 20mL of the distilled water will be collected to determine the
alteration of water molecular structure by examining the molecular structure and the ice crystals before
filling all the packages. The molecular structure will be examined by scanning electron microscopy
(SEM) by using a 10mL water sample and the ice crystal formation will be examined by stereo optical
microscope as follows: A 0.5 mL of water will be placed into each of 20 Petri dishes then a lid will be
placed on each dish then will be placed into freezer at -25 to -30°C for a minimum of 3 hours. After that
the ice crystals will be examined by using a stereo optical microscope .The same process will be done
every 24 hours. The duration of the experiment will be 7 days and will consist of three independent trials.