Cold Plasma Catalysis for the Green Valorisation of Bee Products Biomass within a Circular Bioeconomy Framework

Bee-products, such as bee bread and bee pollen, represent complex and heterogeneous biomass materials rich in proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, and phenolic compounds, in which a significant fraction of bioactive constituents remains structurally bound within the natural matrix. These characteristics make them promising yet underutilized biomass feedstocks for sustainable valorisation within a circular bioeconomy framework. In this context, cold plasma is proposed as a novel non-equilibrium catalytic system for the transformation and upgrading of these bee product-derived biomasses. The plasma discharge generates a variety of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, as well as energetic electrons and excited molecular species, which collectively drive surface reactions, oxidation processes, and structural modifications within the biomass matrix under mild, non-thermal conditions. These reactive species promote partial depolymerization, cleavage of intermolecular interactions, and disruption of biomolecular assemblies, thereby enhancing the release and accessibility of valuable bioactive compounds entrapped within the complex structure of bee bread and pollen. Cold plasma acts as an advanced activation medium that enables green transformation pathways without the need for solvents, chemical reagents, or high thermal input. This approach not only improves the utilization efficiency of bio-based resources but also aligns with sustainable processing principles by minimizing energy demand and environmental impact. The proposed strategy contributes to the development of innovative biomass upgrading routes and supports the conversion of bee-derived materials into high-value functional fractions with potential applications. Acknowledgement: This work is financially supported by the European Union's Horizon Europe program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions grant agreement No. 101236756 (BEE-TECH).