Research Projects

Our nation has the largest arable land resources in the world. Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for the major population of India. India is the largest producer of spices, pulses, milk, tea, cashew, and jute; and the second largest producer of wheat, rice, fruits and vegetables, etc. However, there are serious concerns over the quality of food products. Among them, the primary issue is mycotoxins' contamination of agricultural products during the pre and post harvest stages. In this light, aflatoxin (Afs) received significant attention because of their severe health effects on humans. Aflatoxin is a widely reported carcinogenic mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus species and is mainly present in wheat, rice, milk products, cereal products, chilli and groundnuts. According to a report from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-Lucknow, 21% of the produced groundnuts in India are unfit for use due to aflatoxin contamination. Over the years, there has been a rising need for healthy and minimally processed food without compromising nutritional quality. Therefore, it is imperative to develop innovative technologies that are efficient and free from the use of chemicals. In this light, the nonthermal plasma can be a potential alternative. The present proposal aims to develop and demonstrate a novel atmospheric pressure nonthermal plasma reactor for preventing aflatoxin in agricultural food products. Unlike conventional low-pressure reactors, the proposed technology operates at atmospheric pressure, which is commercially more viable. The project aims to optimize the processing using a hybrid approach consisting of plasma characterization coupled with reactive species quantification. This will help in developing high-performance next generation reactor. To the best of the investigator’s knowledge, no such detailed study has been reported in INDIA. The application and practical viability of the reactor will be demonstrated through the removal of aflatoxin in groundnuts and chilli. The project also aims to study the effect of plasma exposure on the nutritional quality of food products. Finally, the project includes the in-field investigation of the proposed technology through collaborating with nearby industry Renuka Bio Farm LLP, Srikalahasthi, AP, INDIA. In short, the outcome of the proposed study is expected to benefit both the farmers and consumers of the country by offering them an efficient way of decontamination and removal of aflatoxin. It will also help in establishing nonthermal plasma technology as a green alternative for agriculture and food processing in INDIA. This shall also help in controlling pollution by the removal of chemicals and pesticides in farming. Systematic use of nonthermal plasma will not only profit the farmers, but also consumers by offering healthier food products. Being an agriculture-based economy, developing these innovative technologies is of great national importance.