Effect of corona discharge plasma jet treatment on the degradation of aflatoxin B1 on glass slides and in spiked food commodities

Aflatoxins are a class of mycotoxins produced predominantly by fungal species such as Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus nomius. These fungi and their toxins are usually found in a variety of agricultural products. Some mycotoxins are highly toxic, mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic to humans and animals. Due to their recalcitrant nature, mycotoxins continue to survive through food processing and storage steps. In this study, corona discharge plasma jet (CDPJ) was used to degrade aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a potent hepatotoxic and hepato-carcinogenic mycotoxin, on glass slides and in spiked food commodities since corona discharges are one of the simplest and best-reproducible source of multiple oxidants. Discharges of the plasma were generated using air as working gas under atmospheric pressure conditions and at different currents (1.00, 1.25 and 1.50 A). Optimal AFB1 degradation was observed upon using CDPJ generated at 1.50 A current and at 15 mm sample-to-electrode distance. Under these conditions, initial AFB1 concentration on slides was decreased maximally by 95% in 30 min. The degradation kinetics were well fitted by Weibull tail model compared with others. In spiked food commodities (rice and wheat), the average levels of AFB1 degradation ranged between 45 and 56% following CDPJ treatment for 30 min.