DECONTAMINATION OF CORN CONTAINING AFLATOXIN BY TREATMENT WITH AMMONIA

Corn containing aflatoxin can be effectively decontaminated by treatment with gaseous ammonia at atmospheric pressure. Preliminary studies were made of the effect of ammonia level, corn moisture, temperature, and time on the aflatoxin level. Ammonia tolerance tests were carried out on laying hens as were acceptance tests by swine. Toxicity feeding trials with ducklings, broiler chicks, and trout confirmed that the process inactivates the aflatoxin. The process was then applied under farm scale conditions to produce materials for feeding trials with swine, poultry, and cattle under FDA protocols. The process can reduce aflatoxin levels from 1000 parts per billion (ppb) to within the FDA action level of 20 ppb. © 1979 The American Oil Chemists' Society.