Cold atmospheric pressure plasma pretreatment as a novel tool to tailor the functional properties of quince seed mucilage biopolymer-based edible films

Abstract Background Quince seed mucilage (QSM) is a promising polysaccharide for the fabrication of biodegradable edible films; however, its relatively limited functional performance restricts broader food-packaging applications. Scope and Approach: The present study investigated the effects of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) treatment applied to QSM solutions at 6, 7, and 8 kV for 1, 3, and 5 min, followed by a comprehensive evaluation of the physicochemical, surface, barrier, mechanical, and thermal properties of the resulting films. Key Findings: CAP treatment did not significantly affect film thickness regardless of the applied processing conditions. Contact angle analysis demonstrated that the highest surface hydrophobicity was achieved under a 7 kV for 3 min plasma treatment. Water vapor barrier measurements revealed that films treated for 3 min exhibited the lowest permeability, irrespective of the applied voltage. Surface topography analysis indicated that 6 kV for 1min plasma exposure generated the greatest surface roughness, whereas increasing either the treatment duration or applied voltage produced a denser, more homogeneous, and compact film microstructure. Compared with the untreated control, CAP treatment significantly enhanced the mechanical performance of the films, with the optimum tensile properties obtained following treatment at 6 kV for 1 min. Thermal characterization by TGA and DSC further demonstrated that 5 min plasma exposure time adversely affected the thermal stability of the films, while optimized CAP conditions (3 min) provided the most favorable thermal performance. Conclusions Overall, the findings demonstrate that appropriately optimized CAP treatment effectively improves the structural integrity and functional performance of QSM-based biodegradable films.