Retention of ochratoxin A and fumonisin B1 and B2 from beer on solid surfaces:: comparison of efficiency of adsorbents with different origin

Fifteen solid materials with variable origin and various adsorption properties for retention of mycotoxins were tested - mineral materials, organic polymers and chemical modified silica gels that are used in widespread separation techniques. Some filtration materials currently utilized in brewing technology for beer clarifying and filtration were also examined. Adsorbents have been investigated in model and real samples (beer) and evaluated on the basis of adsorption capacity for ochratoxin A and fumonisin B1 and B2. Mentioned mycotoxins are commonly present in beers and may increase the risk on human health in high beer-consuming countries. The ability of adsorbent to retain mycotoxins on its surface was evaluated as micrograms of mycotoxin per one gram of adsorbent or as percentage of mycotoxin adsorbed. The experiments were accomplished in dynamic mode, which is mostly applied in beer production. The quality profile of beer after treatment with adsorbents in connection with high efficiency of mycotoxins' removal was also considered. The main beer qualitative attributes such as pH value, color, iso-alpha acids were defined. As perspective adsorbents has shown to be carbon and modified silica gels. The retention of ochratoxin A on carbon was 90-96% in range of carbon dosages 2.5-6.5 g/l, and its retention on modified silica gels alters in scope of 64-94%. The retentive effect of fumonisin B1 and B2 on modified silica gels reached 74-100% in dependence on adsorbent dosage. Most changes underwent iso-alpha acids likely in consequence of retention on adsorbents together with mycotoxins. To achieve the scheduled goals the sensitive HPLC methods with fluorescence detection were used.