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Non-destructive SPE-UPLC-based Quantification of Aflatoxins and Stilbenoid Phytoalexins in Single Peanut (Arachis spp.) Seeds
Published on: April 19, 2024
Value-added processing of peanut meal: aflatoxin sequestration during protein extraction
Lauren E Seifert1, Jack P Davis, Joe W Dorner
1Department of Food, Bioprocessing & Nutrition Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|April 1, 2010
Summary
Bentonite clay Astra-Ben 20A effectively removes aflatoxin from peanut meal, reducing levels below 20 ppb. A low concentration (0.2%) is optimal for sequestering aflatoxin without impacting protein content.
Area of Science:
- Food Science
- Agricultural Chemistry
- Toxicology
Background:
- Aflatoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus fungi, posing significant health risks in food and feed.
- Peanut meal, a high-protein byproduct, is susceptible to aflatoxin contamination, limiting its use in food and feed applications.
- Developing effective methods to detoxify contaminated peanut meal is crucial for food safety and resource utilization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of Astra-Ben 20A (AB20A), a bentonite clay, in sequestering aflatoxin from contaminated peanut meal during protein extraction.
- To determine the optimal conditions for aflatoxin sequestration using AB20A, considering factors like pH, temperature, and enzyme hydrolysis.
- To assess the impact of AB20A inclusion on protein solubility and other key parameters of the peanut meal.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of 10% (w/w) aqueous peanut meal dispersions with varying parameters (pH, temperature, enzymatic hydrolysis, AB20A concentration).
- Separation of water-soluble and water-insoluble fractions via centrifugation and filtration after AB20A treatment.
- Quantification of aflatoxin and protein content in separated fractions; measurement of adsorption isotherms.
Main Results:
- Inclusion of 0.2% and 2% AB20A significantly reduced aflatoxin concentrations below 20 ppb in both soluble and insoluble fractions.
- A higher AB20A concentration (2%) led to a significant reduction in water-soluble protein content.
- 0.2% AB20A inclusion did not negatively affect protein solubility, total soluble solids, or the degree of hydrolysis.
Conclusions:
- Astra-Ben 20A is an effective agent for sequestering aflatoxin from contaminated peanut meal.
- A 0.2% concentration of AB20A offers a promising approach for aflatoxin detoxification without compromising protein quality.
- This process holds potential for the safe utilization of aflatoxin-contaminated peanut meal in food and feed industries.
