Optimum cold plasma generating device for treatment of Aspergillus flavus from nuts surface
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Optimum cold plasma generating device for treatment of Aspergillus flavus from nuts surface A. H. Ghorashi1 • M. A. Roosta Tasouji2 • A. Kargarian1
Revised: 28 January 2020 / Accepted: 8 April 2020 Ó Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India) 2020
Abstract The objective of this research is to avail an optimum cold plasma generating device for inactivating Aspergillus flavus from nuts surface. For this purpose, a variety of tests were carried out using three applicable plasma generating devices such as atmospheric pressure capacitive coupled plasma (AP-CCP), direct current diode plasma (DC-DP), and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) for different values of input power, pressure, and irradiation time, using Argon gas. The experimental results were achieved upon performing irradiation of sample pistachio nuts by the aforementioned three devices. Finally, after data analysis based on two factors of toxin inactivation amount and cost feasibility for large scale industrial applications, the AP-CCP device was found to be as an optimum device with an acceptable 4 Logs fungi reduction. However, on the basis of single factor, i.e. toxin reduction rate, the DC-DP device works better with a highest fungi reduction rate of 5 Logs, using Argon in 1 Torr vacuum pressure, 300 W and 20 min irradiation. Keywords Cold plasma devices Aspergillus flavus Nuts Fungi reduction Industrial relevance
& A. H. Ghorashi [email protected] 1
Plasma and Nuclear Fusion Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran, Iran
2
Chemical Engineering Group, Faculty of Engineering, Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran
Introduction The fungus Aspergillus flavus is one of the most acute formation sources of Mycotoxins. It is known as a serious threat to agricultural products; particularly those containing fat and high carbohydrates like oil seeds and nuts. Hence, Pistachios, almonds, peanuts, corn, wheat and rice can be good hosts for the fungus. In order to suppress fungal growth and reducing mycotoxin formation, many remedies have so far been suggested (Goryacheva et al. 2007; Martins et al. 2008; Tsitsigiannis et al. 2012). These methods of treatments are costly, not completely effective, can be harmful, and impractical or even if not so, they are ultimately not economically feasible and relevant for big scale industrial applications. In recent years, interests on potential applications of cold plasma have been increased for microbial decontamination and treatments of Mycotoxins, including inactivation of Aspergillus flavus infecting nuts shell (Dasan et al. 2016; Kim et al. 2014, 2017; Lee et al. 2018; Los et al. 2017; Misra et al 2014; Nikiforov et al. 2016; Oh et al. 2015; Schnabel et al. 2015; Shama and Kong 2012; Tasouji et al. 2018; Thirumdas et al 2015; Ziuzina et al. 2014). The results of these valuable research works differ from one another depending on treatment time, input power, pressure and the gas medium through which the plasma is generated. Factors effecting the formati
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