Using Modified Smectites to Minimize Protein's Interference from Corn Fermentation Solution on Aflatoxin B1 Adsorption.

Aflatoxin B1 (AfB1) is a carcinogenic toxic compound produced by A. Flavus and A. Parasiticus. Aflatoxin contaminated corn rejected as food and feed stuff are often used as feedstock for ethanol production in biofuel industry. An up to three fold enrichment of mycotoxins in the co-product of ethanol production (distiller’s grain) is a great concern to both ethanol and animal industries. The main objective of this study is to reduce aflatoxin concentration in the distiller’s grain by the use of smectites in fermentation solution (FS) during ethanol production. Our research explained that smectites were effective enough in reducing AfB1 concentration in the presence of ethanol and glucose solutions. Unfortunately, AfB1 adsorption by smectite in FS was very minimal compared to the adsorption in water. The overall research suggested that protein in FS interfered greatly AfB1 adsorption by smectite. Hence, the specific goal of the present study was to minimize the protein’s entrance into the interlayer and facilitating accessibility of aflatoxin molecule by using smectites modified with organic compounds. Choline chloride (CC), a nutrient organic compound was used to modify the surface of smectites. The CC-3MS complex was shaken for one hour for cation exchange reaction, and centrifuged, and then washed with water for three times. The treated clay residue was analyzed by XRD and compared with the previous untreated clay. After heating at 300°C, d-spacing for CC-3MS-water was 1.11 nm, whereas untreated 3MS was collapsed to 0.97 nm. This suggested probably some choline entered into the interlayer. Again, before and after heating the d-spacing was lower in CC-3MS-FS than untreated 3MS as well as other smectites in FS. This suggested less entrance of protein molecules into the interlayer of smectites. Thus, more AfB1 would suppose to be adsorbed by the CC treated smectites.