The Hydrophilization and Subsequent Hydrophobic Recovery Mechanism of Cold Plasma (CP) Treated Bambara Groundnuts

Abstract

Plasma hydrophilization and subsequent hydrophobic recovery in Bambara groundnuts are studied for the first time. Bambara groundnut seeds were treated with cold plasma (CP) for 10 seconds at 10 watts using water as a monomer. The contact angle, as well as physical and chemical changes, were used to determine the kinetics of hydrophobic recovery. The hydrophilic state of Bambara groundnut seeds had decreased after 60 days, but not to original hydrophobicity, and also the recovery rate is slower than those observed on synthetic polymer. However, this slower hydrophobic recovery makes CP treatment as an effective method for long-term seed storage.