Abstract

Grain cleaning is the most effective post-harvest measure to reduce elevated mycotoxin levels. The focus lies on the efficient removal of mould-infested grains and grain fractions on the basis of features such as size, density and optical properties. In this study, the reduction of total aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2) in naturally contaminated maize was tested in three cleaning steps using industrial-scale cleaning Bühler machines. The first step included (i) the Grain Plus for mechanical size separation and dust removal by aspiration, the second (ii) separation based on density differences with a Concentrator, and the third (iii) optical sorting with SORTEX. Four batches of maize (about 3 tons each) with different levels of aflatoxin contamination were used for the trials. Furthermore, different process settings and cleaning intensities were tested. Sampling (3 replicates/batch) was performed according to the Commission Regulation N. 401/2006 and the collected samples were analyzed by HPLC/FLD with photochemical derivatization. In addition, the incoming material was analyzed by the Eurofins' Rapidust® system for on-site sampling and analysis of mycotoxins in grains. First of all, trials once again highlighted the difficulties of sampling for aflatoxins. Samples showed a large variability with respect to aflatoxin level. However, high levels of aflatoxin contamination were observed in the removed product streams, with values up to 250 µg/kg. Consistent results were achieved by calculating the aflatoxin level of the incoming material from the removed products taking into account the mass balance. These values compared well with the analyzed levels from the Rapidust®. Aflatoxin levels were reduced from about 10 and 20 µg/kg to 3-4 µg/kg and 2-3 µg/kg for the low and high contaminated material, respectively. The results showed that i) with the Grain Plus an aflatoxin removal of 10-15% was achieved by size separation and aspiration; ii) with the Concentrator, another 10-70% aflatoxins was removed by density separation and finally, iii) another 20-90% aflatoxins was removed by optical sorting with SORTEX. In conclusion, the combination of the tested cleaning machines could allowed a total aflatoxin removal of 60-90% in maize.

Autore Pugliese

• Pascale Michelangelo

Tutti gli autori

• Slettengren K.; Pascale M.; Hirschberger M.; Graeber M.; Conde-Petit B.; Reichel M.; Panzarini G.; Cervellieri S.; Logrieco A.F.

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Anno di pubblicazione

2017

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