INACTIVATION OF AFLATOXINS IN COTTONSEED MEAL BY AMMONIATION .1. REACTION STUDIES

Cottonseed meal containing an average of 340 ppb total aflatoxins was treated with anhydrous liquid ammonia under varying conditions of time, temperature, and ammonia concentration. Meal moisture was held constant at 10%. A unique sampling device was constructed and used to withdraw meal at time intervals as frequent as 5 min during the reaction period, without interrupting the ammoniation process. The rate of aflatoxin inactivation occurring under a given set of treatment conditions was thus monitored. The data obtained in this study indicate that the inactivation of aflatoxins in cottonseed meal, as determined by chemical assay, may be successfully achieved by use of less stringent conditions of time, temperature, pressure, and moisture content than previous studies have indicated. © 1979 The American Oil Chemists' Society.