molecules-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Non-Thermal Processing Technologies in Food Science: From Stabilization to Bioactive Analysis

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 April 2026) | Viewed by 3248

Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Interests: cereal science; metabolomics; novel technique in food processing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Interests: metabolomics; bioactive analysis; cold plasma technology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue entitled “Non-Thermal Processing Technologies in Food Science: From Stabilization to Bioactive Analysis”. Non-thermal technologies such as high-pressure processing, pulsed electric fields, cold plasma, ultrasound, and oscillating magnetic fields present promising alternatives to conventional thermal methods. These innovative approaches effectively inhibit microbial growth and enzyme activity, thereby ensuring food safety and extending shelf life, while simultaneously preserving the natural nutritional value, sensory qualities, and functional integrity of food products.

A central focus of this Special Issue is to explore the dual role of these technologies: from fundamental stabilization to their profound impact on bioactive compounds. We seek contributions that delve into the mechanisms of action, process optimization, and the multifaceted effects on food matrices. Specifically, we encourage submissions addressing the following themes: (i) the efficacy of different non-thermal treatments in achieving microbial and enzymatic stabilization; (ii) their influence on the retention, enhancement, and extraction of bioactive compounds like polyphenols, vitamins, and antioxidants; (iii) advanced analytical methodologies for assessing quality attributes and profiling bioactive components in non-thermally processed foods; (iv) and the implications of these processing routes on the bioavailability and bioactivity of food constituents. 

We invite the submission of original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and short communications that explore the role of non-thermal technologies in modern food science and technology.

Dr. Chenguang Zhou
Dr. Zhen Yang
Guest Editors

Dr. Siyao Liu
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • non-thermal processing
  • food stabilization
  • bioactive compounds
  • high-pressure processing
  • pulsed electric fields
  • cold plasma

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

16 pages, 890 KB  
Article
Characteristics of Oils Extracted from Yellow Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) Dried with the Infrared-Convective Method
by Radosław Bogusz, Małgorzata Nowacka, Rita Brzezińska, Iga Piasecka-Lenartowicz, Artur Wiktor and Joanna Bryś
Molecules 2026, 31(4), 689; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31040689 - 17 Feb 2026
Viewed by 771
Abstract
Edible insects are a nutritionally attractive food product, also due to their high fat content and high levels of unsaturated fatty acids. In this work, the effect of pulsed electric field (PEF) pretreatment and infrared-convective (IR-CD) drying on the oil properties extracted from [...] Read more.
Edible insects are a nutritionally attractive food product, also due to their high fat content and high levels of unsaturated fatty acids. In this work, the effect of pulsed electric field (PEF) pretreatment and infrared-convective (IR-CD) drying on the oil properties extracted from yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) larvae was investigated. The oil from raw and dried insects was extracted via the Soxhlet method for yield determination and via the Folch method for quality analysis. The acid value (AV) and peroxide value (PV) via the titration method, fatty acid composition and its distribution in triacylglycerol (TAG) molecules via the gas chromatography method, calculation of nutritional value indices, oxidative stability via pressure differential scanning calorimetry (PDSC) method, and antioxidant activity of methanol extracts were examined. The results show that PEF may enhance the oil extraction yield from dried insects by up to 29.2%. The PEF treatment and drying method made insect oils more valuable by lowering their acid and peroxide values, increasing the MUFA content, and improving oxidative stability. Nonetheless, the nutritional properties of oils deteriorated. Our study demonstrated that oils extracted from dried yellow mealworm could be used as an ingredient in other food products to improve their nutritional value. However, more research in this area is needed to assess the impact on quality properties. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

23 pages, 1745 KB  
Review
Cold Plasma as a Promising Non-Thermal Strategy for Enhancing Food Safety: A Review of Microbial and Mycotoxin Decontamination
by Jiangqi Huang, Chenguang Zhou, Huiling Huang, Zhen Yang and Siyao Liu
Molecules 2026, 31(3), 517; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31030517 - 2 Feb 2026
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2045
Abstract
Cold plasma (CP) is a novel non-thermal food processing technology characterized by low processing temperatures, high efficiency, and a pollution-free nature. It demonstrates promising application potential in food sterilization, preservation, and the degradation of mycotoxins. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent [...] Read more.
Cold plasma (CP) is a novel non-thermal food processing technology characterized by low processing temperatures, high efficiency, and a pollution-free nature. It demonstrates promising application potential in food sterilization, preservation, and the degradation of mycotoxins. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the application of CP for food sterilization and mycotoxin degradation. It also critically analyzes the underlying degradation mechanisms of CP and the key factors affecting its decontamination efficacy. The application efficacy of CP across various food matrices is summarized, demonstrating its significant potential to reduce microbial loads and degrade major mycotoxins with minimal impact on food quality. Critical factors influencing treatment efficiency, particularly the matrix effect and process parameters, are analyzed. Furthermore, the review assesses the toxicological safety of the degradation products, citing evidence of reduced cytotoxicity in in vitro and in vivo models. It also discusses the major obstacles to industrial implementation, including limited penetration depth, challenges in equipment scale-up, and regulatory constraints. On this basis, the review outlines future research priorities, with particular emphasis on the development of intelligent control systems and the establishment of robust regulatory frameworks to support commercial application. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop