The aim of this work was to investigate the efficacy of a large gap atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) generated with an open-air high-voltage dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) pilot-scale reactor, operated in either static (batch) or continuous mode for produce decontamination and quality retention. Significant reductions in the bacterial populations inoculated on the strawberries and spinach were obtained after the static mode of ACP treatment with 2.0 and 2.2 log₁₀ CFU/ml reductions for E. coli and 1.3 and 1.7 log₁₀ CFU/ml reductions for L. innocua, respectively. Continuous treatment was effective against L. innocua inoculated on strawberries, with 3.8 log₁₀ CFU/ml reductions achieved. No significant differences in colour, firmness, pH or total soluble solids (TSS) was observed between control and ACP-treated samples with the effects of treatment retained during the shelf-life period. The pilot-scale atmospheric air plasma reactor retained the strawberry quality characteristics in tandem with useful antimicrobial efficacy.

Industrial relevance

This in-package plasma technology approach is a low-power, water-free, non-thermal, post-package treatment. Generating cold plasma discharges inside food packages achieved useful antimicrobial effects on fresh produce. Depending on the bacterial type, produce and mode of ACP treatment significant reductions in the populations of pathogenic microorganisms attached to the fresh produce was achieved within 2.5 min of treatment. The principal technical advantages include contaminant control, quality retention, mitigation of re-contamination and crucially the retention of bactericidal reactive gas molecules in the food package volume, which then revert back to the original gas.

中文翻译：

---

大间隙冷等离子体反应器对新鲜草莓和菠菜进行包装内连续消毒的研究

这项工作的目的是研究以静态（间歇）或连续模式运行的露天高压电介质阻挡放电（DBD）中型规模反应器产生的大间隙大气冷等离子体（ACP）的功效用于产品去污和质量保持。ACP治疗与2.0和2.2的日志静态模式后，获得在接种对草莓和菠菜的细菌种群减少显著₁₀为CFU / ml的减少大肠杆菌和1.3和1.7日志₁₀ / ml的用于减少CFU无害利斯特氏菌，分别。连续处理对接种草莓的无毒李斯特菌有效，为3.8 log ₁₀CFU / ml降低。在对照组和ACP处理的样品之间，在保质期内保持不变的处理效果，未观察到颜色，硬度，pH或总可溶性固形物（TSS）的显着差异。中试规模的大气等离子体反应器具有有用的抗菌功效，同时保持了草莓的品质特性。

行业相关性

这种封装内等离子体技术方法是一种低功率，无水，非热，封装后处理。食品包装内部产生冷等离子体放电对新鲜农产品具有有益的抗菌作用。根据细菌的类型，ACP的产品和处理方式，在处理后2.5分钟内可显着减少附着在新鲜产品上的病原微生物的数量。主要的技术优势包括污染物控制，质量保留，减轻再污染以及至关重要的是，在食品包装体积中保留了杀菌性反应性气体分子，然后这些气体又恢复为原始气体。