Decomposition of L-Valine under Nonthermal Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma

L-Valine solutions in water and phosphate buffer were treated with nonthermal plasma generated by using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) device and the products generated after plasma treatments were characterized by H-1 NMR and GC-MS. Our results demonstrate that L-valine is decomposed to acetone, formic acid, acetic acid, threomethylaspartic acid, erythro-methlyaspartic acid, and pyruvic acid after direct exposure to DBD plasma. The concentrations of these compounds are time-dependent with plasma treatment. The mechanisms of L-valine under the DBD plasma are also proposed in this study. Acetone, pyruvic acid, and organic radicals (CHO)-C-center dot, CH3COCH2OO center dot (acetonylperoxy), and CH3COC(OH)(2)OO center dot (1,1-dihydroxypropan-2-one peroxy) may be the determining chemicals in DNA damage.