Effect of gliding arc discharge plasma pretreatment on drying kinetic, energy consumption and physico-chemical properties of saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

In the current work, the effect of atmospheric cold plasma pretreatment (15, 30, 45, and 60) on the drying kinetics, drying time and energy consumption during hot-air drying (60 ᵒC, 1.5 m/s) of saffron was studied. The effect of cold plasma pretreatment on the amount of some bioactive compounds including crocin, picrocrocin, safranal, and total phenolic content was also investigated. The results showed that drying time decreased with increasing...