Premium
Destruction of zearalenone in contaminated corn
Author(s) -
Bennett G. A.,
Shotwell O. L.,
Hesseltine C. W.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1007/bf02668251
Subject(s) - zearalenone , chemistry , formaldehyde , contamination , ammonium hydroxide , acetic acid , food science , aflatoxin , hydrochloric acid , mycotoxin , sodium hydroxide , biochemistry , organic chemistry , biology , ecology
Several chemical and physical treatments were investigated as possible methods for destroying zearalenone in contaminated corn. An ammoniation process which significantly lowers aflatoxin levels had no effect on zearalenone contamination in yellow corn. Also, treatments of propionic acid, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, sodium bicarbonate and hydrogen peroxide failed to reduce toxin levels. High‐temperature treatment (150 C) had no effect on zearalenone. Formaldehyde, in vapor form from paraformaldehyde crystals or in aqueous solutions, destroyed significant quantities of zearalenone in naturally contaminated yellow corn meal and in spiked corn grits and animal feed. Samples treated with aqueous formaldehyde must be dried at 50 C or more to cause effective destruction of zearale‐none. Levels as high as 10 ppm zearalenone in animal feed and 8 ppm in ground corn were reduced to less than 0.5 ppm with formal‐dehyde. Ammonium hydroxide and formaldehyde partially des‐troyed zearalenone in highly contaminated ground corn. Levels as high as 33.5 ppm were reduced to 12 ppm by 3% ammonium hydroxide and to 2.1 ppm by 3.7% formaldehyde. No treatment used in this study significantly reduced zearalenone levels in whole‐kernel corn.