Zearalenone Degradation by Dielectric Barrier Discharge Cold Plasma: The Kinetics and Mechanism

In this study, dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) cold plasma was used to degrade zearalenone and the efficiency of degradation were evaluated. In addition, the degradation kinetics and possible pathway of degradation were investigated. The results showed that zearalenone degradation percentage increased with increasing voltage and time. When it was treated at 50 KV for 120 s, the degradation percentage could reach 98.28%. Kinetics analysis showed that the degradation process followed a first-order reaction, which fitted the exponential function model best (R-2 = 0.987). Meanwhile, liquid chromatographywith quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF LC/MS) was used to analyze the degradation products, one major compound was identified. In this study, the reactive species generated in cold plasma was analyzed by Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) and the free radicals were detected by Electron Spin Resonance (ESR). This study could provide a theoretical basis for the degradation of zearalenone to a certain extent.

Automated summary

In this study, DBD cold plasma was used to degrade zearalenone and the degradation efficiency was evaluated. The degradation kinetics and possible pathway of degradation were investigated. The results showed that the degradation percentage of zearalenone increased with increasing voltage and time. Kinetics analysis revealed that the degradation process followed a first-order reaction. The study also analyzed the degradation products and detected reactive species and free radicals. This study provides a theoretical basis for the degradation of zearalenone to a certain extent.