Cold atmospheric plasma degradation of deoxynivalenol in solid and liquid phases and its effect on whole wheat flour quality

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has shown great promise in mycotoxin degradation. This study compared the degradation efficiency of CAP against DON in the solid phase, aqueous solution, and wheat grains, as well as their degradation pathway and cytotoxicity of degradation products. The degradation efficiency of liquid DON by 12-W and 3.5-min CAP was 95%, while the maximum degradation rate of solid DON was only 56% after 40-W CAP treatment for 20 min. The major individual degradation products of solid and liquid-phase DON were C 15 H 19 NO 9 and C 15 H 18 O 7 . There were also four same degradation products, namely C 14 H 16 O 4 , C 15 H 18 O 6 , C 15 H 18 O 8 , and C 15 H 20 O 5 . The cytotoxicity of solid and liquid-phase DON on human kidney cells was significantly decreased after CAP treatment. Additionally, the degradation rate of 30-min CAP at 10 W against DON in wheat grains was 61%. The pasting and gluten quality of whole wheat flour was altered after CAP treatment. • Plasma degraded solid and liquid deoxynivalenol (DON) and DON in wheat grains. • Plasma more efficiently degraded liquid DON and reduce its toxicity than solid DON. • There were four same degradation products between solid and liquid DON. • The degradation rate of DON in wheat grains by 30-min plasma at 10 W was 61 %. • Plasma treatment changed the pasting and gluten properties of wheat flour.