Non thermal plasma in liquid media: Effect on inulin depolymerization and functionalization

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Chemical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Inulin, a polysaccharide, is a valuable source of carbohydrates.
• Efficient depolymerization methods are needed for inulin utilization.
• Non-thermal plasma offers novel chemical processing capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the complete conversion of inulin using dielectric barrier discharge plasma.
• To explore the production of fructo-oligosaccharides and monosaccharides from inulin.
• To understand the chemical mechanisms involved in plasma-induced inulin depolymerization.

Main Methods:

• Dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatment at atmospheric pressure.
• Varying plasma treatment times (1-30 min) and gas compositions (air, O2, N2).
• Analysis using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (ssNMR), and mass spectrometry.

Main Results:

• Complete inulin conversion to fructose and glucose achieved in 20 min without degradation.
• Tunable depolymerization to fructo-oligosaccharides (degree of polymerization < 5) possible.
• Mechanism involves oxidative attack and β 1-4-bridged oxygen breakage, confirmed by Infrared spectroscopy and ssNMR.

Conclusions:

• Non-thermal plasma is a highly effective technology for inulin conversion.
• This method enables efficient production of mono- and oligosaccharides.
• Potential applications in food and pharmaceutical industries for high-value carbohydrate production.