Detoxification of aflatoxin in corn flour by ozone

BACKGROUND Corn, which is one of most important agricultural products worldwide, is prone to pollution by aflatoxins ( AFs ) in many areas, thus seriously jeopardizing human health and threatening economic growth. This study evaluated the effects of ozone on the detoxification of AFs in corn flour ( CF ) and the moisture content ( MC ) thereof . RESULTS The detoxifying effects of ozone on CF became more obvious as the ozone concentration and exposure time increased. After CF was treated with 75 mg L −1 ozone for 60 min, the contents of AFB 1 , AFG 1 and AFB 2 decreased from 53.60, 12.08 and 2.42 µg kg −1 to 11.38, 3.37 and 0.71 µg kg −1 , respectively, which are lower than the maximum limits of AFB 1 , AFG 1 , AFB 2 and total AFs (20 µg kg −1 ) for CF regulated by the Chinese government. Ozonation significantly affected the MC of CF , and ozone at a higher concentration decreased the MC more drastically. After CF was exposed to 15, 30, 45 and 75 mg L −1 ozone for 60 min, the MC of CF decreased from 17.4% to below 15%, fulfilling the long‐period storage requirements for CF . CONCLUSION Ozone is potentially applicable in effectively degrading the AFs in CF and in greatly decreasing the MC of CF . © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry