Abstract:
Because of widespread occurrence of aflatoxins and the potential hazards associated with
consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated foodstuffs, a study was undertaken to determine
how best to destroy aflatoxin in contaminated maize samples. Strains of Aspergillus
parasiticus were used to contaminate maize to produce 1000 μg/kg of contaminated test
sample. Ammoniation procedure in different concentrations of ammonia was adopted for
aflatoxin destruction. Aflatoxin concentrations were determined by HPLC using
fluorescence detection. The results obtained showed a proportional increase in aflatoxin
destruction with the increase of ammonia concentrations. This study therefore established
that ammoniation treatment under high pressure and at high ammonia concentration is
more destructive to aflatoxins than treatment under atmospheric or low pressure.
Ammoniation procedures may be considered suitable for large scale destruction of
aflatoxins that contaminate foodstuffs stored in warm moist places.
