title: Use of Cold Atmospheric Plasma to Detoxify Hazelnuts from Aflatoxins.
abstract: Aflatoxins, produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, can contaminate different foodstuffs, such as nuts. Cold atmospheric pressure plasma has the potential to be used for mycotoxin detoxification. In this study, the operating parameters of cold atmospheric pressure plasma were optimized to reduce the presence of aflatoxins on dehulled hazelnuts. First, the effect of different gases was tested (N₂, 0.1% O₂ and 1% O₂, 21% O₂), then power (400, 700, 1000, 1150 W) and exposure time (1, 2, 4, and 12 min) were optimized. In preliminary tests on aflatoxin standard solutions, this method allowed to obtain a complete detoxification using a high power for a few minutes. On hazelnuts, in similar conditions (1000 W, 12 min), a reduction in the concentration of total aflatoxins and AFB₁ of over 70% was obtained. Aflatoxins B₁ and G₁ were more sensitive to plasma treatments compared to aflatoxins B₂ and G₂, respectively. Under plasma treatment, aflatoxin B₁ was more sensitive compared to aflatoxin G₁. At the highest power, and for the longest time, the maximum temperature increment was 28.9 °C. Cold atmospheric plasma has the potential to be a promising method for aflatoxin detoxification on food, because it is effective and it could help to maintain the organoleptic characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Agroinnova-Centre of Competence for the Innovation in the Agro-Environmental Sector, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, 2 Grugliasco, Turin 10095, Italy. ilenia.siciliano@unito.it.
authors.forename: Ilenia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Siciliano
authors.affiliation: Agroinnova-Centre of Competence for the Innovation in the Agro-Environmental Sector, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, 2 Grugliasco, Turin 10095, Italy. davide.spadaro@unito.it.|Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Science (DISAFA), University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, 2 Grugliasco, Turin 10095, Italy. davide.spadaro@unito.it.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spadaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Science (DISAFA), University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, 2 Grugliasco, Turin 10095, Italy. ambra.prelle@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ambra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prelle
authors.affiliation: Tecnogranda SpA, Via G.B. Conte, 19 Dronero, Cuneo 12025, Italy. dario.vallauri@tecnogranda.it.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vallauri
authors.affiliation: Tecnogranda SpA, Via G.B. Conte, 19 Dronero, Cuneo 12025, Italy. mariachiara.cavallero@tecnogranda.it.
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cavallero
authors.affiliation: Agroinnova-Centre of Competence for the Innovation in the Agro-Environmental Sector, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, 2 Grugliasco, Turin 10095, Italy. angelo.garibaldi@unito.it.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garibaldi
authors.affiliation: Agroinnova-Centre of Competence for the Innovation in the Agro-Environmental Sector, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, 2 Grugliasco, Turin 10095, Italy. marialodovica.gullino@unito.it.|Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Science (DISAFA), University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, 2 Grugliasco, Turin 10095, Italy. marialodovica.gullino@unito.it.
authors.forename: Maria Lodovica
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gullino
mesh_terms: D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D031211:Corylus; D009754:Nuts / Q000737:chemistry*; D058626:Plasma Gases
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D058626:Plasma Gases
keywords: aflatoxins; cold atmospheric pressure plasma; detoxification; hazelnut; nitrogen; nuts; temperature; time