Plasma Degradation of Pesticides on the Surface of Corn and Evaluation of Its Quality Changes

Hongxia Liu,Xinxin Feng,Dingmeng Guo

doi:10.3390/su13168830

Abstract

Plasma is a surface decontamination tool that is widely used in the food fields for pesticide degradation. In this study the effect of plasma on pesticide elimination from the surface of corn and the corn quality changes were tested as functions of power, air flow rate, treatment time, and frequency. Results indicated that plasma treatment for 60 s at 1000 mL·min−1 air flow rate, power of 20 W, and frequency of 1200 Hz, achieved the largest degradation efficiency up to 86.2% for chlorpyrifos and 66.6% for carbaryl, both of which were below the maximum residues limit of grains. Most importantly, after plasma treatment, there was a remarkable decrease (p < 0.05) in moisture content and starch content for treated corn compared with control. The acid value for treated corn showed a prominent increase (p < 0.05), but within the acceptable range of the standard. The vitamin B2 content of treated corn did not show a significant difference (p > 0.05). All results of this study demonstrated that plasma treatment is a promising technology with the ability to remove pesticide residues on corn while maintaining its quality within acceptable limits.

Highlights

The plasma treatment at 1000 mL·min−1 of air flow rate for 60 s, discharge power of 20 W and frequency of 1200 Hz, removed chlorpyrifos and carbaryl residues on corn, achieving a best efficiency of up to 86.2% and 66.6% removal, respectively, and the pesticide residue concentrations on treated corn were below the maximum residue limits (MRL) of cereals
A significant degradation (p < 0.05) of chlorpyrifos and carbaryl could be obtained due to the increase of plasma discharge power. This phenomenon is attributed to the fact an increasing discharge power enhances the intensity of the discharge electric field generating more reactive species and increases the possibility of collisions between pesticide molecules and reactive species, which directly leads to efficient pesticide degradation
Plasma achieved maximum degradations of chlorpyrifos and carbaryl of up to 86.2%

Summary

Introduction

After plasma treatment, there was a remarkable decrease (p < 0.05) in moisture content and starch content for treated corn compared with control. All results of this study demonstrated that plasma treatment is a promising technology with the ability to remove pesticide residues on corn while maintaining its quality within acceptable limits. Plasma Degradation of Pesticides on the Surface of Corn and Evaluation of Its Quality Changes. The widespread use of pesticides in agriculture leads to pesticide residues on agricultural products. Poisonousness and the toxic effects of pesticides, the chronic consumption of treated agricultural products by humans and animals poses a significant threat to human health [1]. Concerns about pesticide residues in cereals have mainly focused on organophosphorus pesticides such as chlorpyrifos and triazophos [2].

Results

Discussion

Conclusion