Cold plasma from flexible and conformable paper-based electrodes for fresh produce sanitation: Evaluation of microbial inactivation and quality changes

Two types of cold plasma generating paper-based electrodes (CPPE) made with flexible metallized paper were developed to decontaminate fresh produce. As opposed conventional rigid volume dielectric barrier discharge currently used for in-package generation which voltage increases as a function thickness, two CPPE configurations based on surface provided high local concentrations less was independent the thickness package. For decontaminating E. coli and Listeria innocua, circular design spinach kirigami origami two-cone tomato used. Generation ozone other reactive oxygen nitrogen species by both identified. Activation 10 min reduced 4.6 ± 0.6 log CFU per leaf 0.5 tomato, whereas innocua reductions 4.8 1.7 2.0 0.4 respectively. No changes in quality attributes observed post-treated tomatoes, while browning leaves. The results demonstrated effectiveness innovative sanitation produce its impact quality. Package conformability, properties, bacterial characteristics played important role overall inactivation efficacy. • Design paper. 2D cutouts that fold conform spherical Reactive produced decontamination. Negligible plasma-treated tomatoes. Inactivation dependent electrode parameters, food surface, type bacteria.