Depolymerization of inulin in the highly reactive gas phase of a non thermal plasma at atmospheric pressure

The interest of fructose production arises from its sweetening character used in application such as food and pharmaceutic industries. Fructose formation is achieved by the short treatment of inulin by non thermal plasma at atmospheric pressure, under air, using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) configuration. Promising results were observed as a total conversion of inulin was achieved within 10 min of treatment (18 kV, 2 kHz), without the addition of solvent, nor catalyst and at room temperature. Additionally to fructose (32%), fructooligosaccharides of higher degrees of polymerization were produced. The mechanism underlying the depolymerization process appears to start with the oxidation of inulin followed by the cleavage of the β‐glycosidic bond and eventually ring opening of the monomer.