Plasma-induced modification of fenugreek galactomannan thickener film via dielectric barrier discharge for textile printing

Fenugreek seeds are a valuable source of galactomannan, a natural thickener with applications in textile printing. However, traditional galactomannan extraction methods often suffer from lengthy processing times and limited yields. To address these limitations, the use of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) atmospheric cold plasma was applied as a pretreatment method. Dried fenugreek seeds were subjected to air and oxygen gas plasma treatments at various discharge powers and exposure durations. Subsequently, galactomannan was extracted and formed into films (membranes) for characterization. Additionally, the rheological properties of the galactomannan solutions were investigated to assess their potential as eco-friendly thickening agents in textile printing pastes. The antibacterial activity of the treated galactomannan was also investigated.