title: In-package nonthermal plasma degradation of pesticides on fresh produce.
abstract: In-package nonthermal plasma (NTP) technology is a novel technology for the decontamination of foods and biological materials. This study presents the first report on the potential of the technology for the degradation of pesticide residues on fresh produce. A cocktail of pesticides, namely azoxystrobin, cyprodinil, fludioxonil and pyriproxyfen was tested on strawberries. The concentrations of these pesticides were monitored in priori and post-plasma treatment using GC-MS/MS. An applied voltage and time dependent degradation of the pesticides was observed for treatment voltages of 60, 70 and 80 kV and treatment durations ranging from 1 to 5 min, followed by 24h in-pack storage. The electrical characterisation revealed the operation of the discharge in a stable filamentary regime. The discharge was found to generate reactive oxygen and excited nitrogen species as observed by optical emission spectroscopy.
authors.affiliation: BioPlasma Research Group, School of Food Science and Environmental Health, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin 1, Ireland.
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Misra
authors.affiliation: BioPlasma Research Group, School of Food Science and Environmental Health, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin 1, Ireland.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Pankaj
authors.affiliation: National Pesticide Laboratory, The State Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Backweston Laboratory Campus, Celbridge, Kildare, Ireland.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: National Pesticide Laboratory, The State Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Backweston Laboratory Campus, Celbridge, Kildare, Ireland.
authors.forename: Finbarr
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: O'Regan
authors.affiliation: BioPlasma Research Group, School of Food Science and Environmental Health, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin 1, Ireland.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bourke
authors.affiliation: BioPlasma Research Group, School of Food Science and Environmental Health, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin 1, Ireland; School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: pjcullen@dit.ie.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cullen
mesh_terms: D004149:Dioxoles / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D031985:Fragaria; D005638:Fruit; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D000073739:Strobilurins; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D004149:Dioxoles; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D008689:Methacrylates; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D011725:Pyridines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D011758:Pyrroles; D000073739:Strobilurins; C055613:pyriproxyfen; C108338:cyprodinil; D010126:Ozone; C108339:fludioxonil; C087670:azoxystrobin
keywords: Dielectric barrier discharge; GC-MS/MS; Nonthermal plasma; Pesticide