Premium
Depolymerization of inulin in the highly reactive gas phase of a non thermal plasma at atmospheric pressure
Author(s) -
Nastase Raluca,
Tatibouët JeanMichel,
Fourré Elodie
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
plasma processes and polymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1612-8869
pISSN - 1612-8850
DOI - 10.1002/ppap.201800067
Subject(s) - depolymerization , inulin , chemistry , atmospheric pressure , fructose , dielectric barrier discharge , polymerization , monomer , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , polymer , biochemistry , electrode , engineering , geology , oceanography
The interest of fructose production arises from its sweetening character used in application such as food and pharmaceutic industries. Fructose formation is achieved by the short treatment of inulin by non thermal plasma at atmospheric pressure, under air, using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) configuration. Promising results were observed as a total conversion of inulin was achieved within 10 min of treatment (18 kV, 2 kHz), without the addition of solvent, nor catalyst and at room temperature. Additionally to fructose (32%), fructooligosaccharides of higher degrees of polymerization were produced. The mechanism underlying the depolymerization process appears to start with the oxidation of inulin followed by the cleavage of the β‐glycosidic bond and eventually ring opening of the monomer.