Combination of air plasma bubbling and soaking in the reduction of phytic acid and improving free iron availability in pearl millet

Abstract

Pearl millet was subjected to air plasma bubbling along with soaking to enhance HCl extractable iron by reducing phytic acid content. The pearl millet was soaked for 11 h and 10 h followed by plasma bubbling (1 and 2 h) at input voltage 180 V and 10 lph flow rate. A 64.9% and 70.93% of reduction in phytic acid was observed with treatments. The total iron content was reduced while HCl extractable iron content improved by 68% and 59% with 1 h and 2 h exposure time. The significant changes (p≤ 0.05) in pearl millet’s physical, nutritional, and techno-functional properties were noticed with plasma exposure. The present study shows the potential of plasma exposure along with soaking for reducing phytic acid content, improving free iron, and ameliorating techno-functional properties of pearl millet.