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 pretreatment time. In this case, 60s pretreatment reduced the drying time by 54.05% and reduced energy consumption by 39.52%. Antioxidant activity as well as color and sensory properties of the saffron were also evaluated. The results showed that the sample pretreatment (30s) with cold plasma had significantly higher crocin (12.28%), picrocrocin (19.29%), phenolic compounds (11.33%) and antioxidant scavenging activity (1.76%) than the un-pretreated samples in hot air. •The cold plasma process reduces the drying time of saffron.•Cold plasma pretreatment could reduce of the energy consumption in drying.•The nutritional values were higher at 30s pretreatment compared to other pretreatment times.•Cold plasma treatment has no unfavorable effect on sensory attributes of saffron.