Effect of cold plasma treatment on quality parameters of spinach
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Date
2023
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Punjab Agricultural University
Abstract
Investigations were carried out to study was the effect of cold plasma treatment on spinach quality parameters. Design and development of a plasma setup with an adjustable top portion and strips for adjusting the discharge gap that operated at a 25.00 kHz frequency and a discharge voltage range of 32.00 kV to 47.00 kV. The treatment chamber was made of 8 mm thick glass, aluminum foil and pyrex glass were utilized as dielectric barriers, a switch-mode power supply (SMPS) was used to convert AC power to DC, a voltage controller was in charge of controlling the voltage output, and an EHT component serving as a transformer boosted the voltage. By altering exposure period, discharge gap, sample weight, and output voltage, independent variables were manipulated to optimize the cold plasma system, yielding a desirability value of 0.824. Optimal conditions included 20.00 g sample weight, 3.50 cm discharge gap, and 4.00 min exposure, resulting in desired outcomes: 92.39% moisture content, color value of 7.82, texture at 9.38N, chlorophyll content of 2.94 mg/g, total phenol content of 38.55 mg GAE/g, and microbial load of 2.79 log10 CFU/g. Cold plasma-treated and controlled spinach, stored in both ambient and refrigerated settings, packaged in PP and LDPE, showcases prolonged shelf life, improved moisture retention, color, texture, chlorophyll levels, microbial safety, and flavor preservation in comparison to control spinach. Cold plasma treatment effectively upholds spinach quality in PP packaging, elevating visual appeal, nutrition, and overall freshness for up to 3 days at ambient temperature and 9 days in refrigeration. An economic analysis, considering fixed and variable expenses, estimates a Rs. 57,200/- return over variable cost for the developed cold plasma system post-expenditure. It's important that this cutting-edge method showed little adverse effect on the sensory and nutritional qualities of fresh spinach while appreciably extending its shelf life.
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Goswami, Kritanjal (2023). Effect of cold plasma treatment on quality parameters of spinach (Unpublished M.Tech. thesis). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.