Effect of Cold Plasma Treatment on the Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Chickpea Protein

Justification: Chickpea protein isolate (CPI), a protein-rich legume-based ingredient, offers significant potential as a vegan alternative to animal proteins and a healthier substitute for soy protein, appealing to health-conscious consumers. Enhancing its functional properties expands CPI's applications, particularly in developing fibrous structures for plant-based meat analogs. This study utilizes cold plasma treatment, a non-thermal and eco-friendly technology, to improve CPI's functionality, addressing the growing demand for sustainable and versatile protein sources.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of cold plasma treatment in enhancing the functional and structural properties of CPI.

Methods: Commercial CPI was analyzed for proximate composition and mixed with distilled water (pH 4.1) at a 1:2 (w/v) ratio, then divided into control, T1, T2, and T3 groups. Samples were frozen at –20 ºC for 4 hours and treated with cold plasma at 1 kHz (T1), 2 kHz (T2), and 3 kHz (T3), using 3 kV, 55 duty cycles, 2-minute processing time, and a 10 mm probe-to-sample distance. Treated samples were freeze-dried and analyzed for FTIR, water retention capacity (WRC), oil retention capacity (ORC), emulsifying activity index (EAI), and emulsifying stability index (ESI), with all analyses conducted in triplicate.

Results: The proximate protein content of CPI was 86.2±1.1%. FTIR analysis revealed significant differences between untreated and cold plasma-treated CPI (CP-CPI), with minimal variation among CP-CPI samples. The highest WRC (7.43±0.65 g water/g) and ORC (2.90±1.11 g oil/g) were observed in T2, while the highest EAI (81.76±0.52 m²/g) and ESI (11.57±0.43 min) were recorded for T1. Cold plasma treatments significantly enhanced the functional properties of CPI.

Significance: Cold plasma treatment improves the functional properties of CPI, offering a sustainable, allergen-free protein source suitable for plant-based meat applications. These findings align with the AOCS mission to promote eco-friendly protein solutions.