Plasma Chemical Modification of Chitosan for Application in Agronomy

The paper presents the results of plasma treatment of aqueous suspensions of chitosan with an atmospheric pressure direct current discharge in air and an underwater pulse discharge excited between electrodes immersed in the treated suspension. The formation rates of water-soluble chitosan derivatives and energy efficiency of their obtaining under plasma treatment were assessed. Plasma-modified suspensions containing water-soluble chitosan have been shown to accelerate pea seed germination and early growth of seedling. The proposed method for producing a chitosan-based bio-stimulant is quite simple and less expensive compared to plasma treatment of chitosan solutions in acidic media with subsequent separation of water-soluble products.