Investigating the Effect of Cold Plasma on some Chemical Properties of Date Fruits (Phoenix dactylifera L.)

In order to investigate the effect of atmospheric cold plasma on some chemical characteristics of date fruits, Mazafati variety, in storage conditions, cold plasma was applied to the samples using a sliding rotary arc discharge device. The independent variables in this study were plasma application duration in ۵ levels (۳۰, ۶۰, ۱۲۰, ۱۸۰, and ۲۴۰ s) and different gases in ۳ types (air, argon and oxygen). Then, some chemical properties including weight loss percentage, pH and acidity, total soluble solids, total phenolic compounds, and reducing sugar were measured. The experiments were conducted in the form of a factorial design based on complete randomized design. The results showed a significant decrease in the weight of the samples treated with plasma compared to the control samples, during the storage period. The effect of cold plasma on Mazafati date fruits showed a decrease in pH, and an increase in total soluble solids during the storage period. The average value of total phenolic compounds was the lowest value for the samples treated with oxygen gas (۲۱۸۲ mg/kg) and the highest value for the samples treated with argon gas (۴۰۰۷ mg/kg) with plasma treatment time of ۲۴۰ s. The values of reducing sugar were ۳۸.۷۶ % at the lowest and ۶۵.۵۴ % at the highest amounts, for the control and the samples treated with air with a plasma treatment time of ۲۴۰ s, respectively.

Keywords:

Cold plasma , Arc discharge , Physical and chemical properties , Mazafati dates , Shelf life