This layer chromatographic determination of aflatoxin B1 in corn silage

A procedure is described for the purification and quantitation of aflatoxin B1 in corn silage. The toxin is extracted and partially purified using parts of the AOAC minicolumn detection method. The extract is further cleaned up on a 2-step minicolumn and is then analyzed by using thin layer chromatography. Essentially all interferences are removed when the procedure is applied to moldy and non-moldy corn silage. The estimated limit of detection is 5 microgram aflatoxin B1/kg corn silage, and 73 +/- 8% of the added aflatoxin B1 (20 and 85 microgram/kg) was recovered. No aflatoxin B1 was detected in 270 samples collected from 19 silage piles in late fall 1976 and early spring 1977. This procedure also removes interferences associated with moldy corn and mixed feeds.