Application of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) as desiccants to dry maize and reduce aflatoxin contamination

The ability of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) in drying maize and controlling aflatoxin contamination was studied under different temperatures, drying times and SAP-to-maize ratios. Temperature and drying time showed significant influence on the aflatoxin formation. SAP-to-maize ratios between 1:1 an...

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Published inJournal of food science and technology Vol. 53; no. 8; pp. 3157 - 3165
Main Authors Mbuge, Duncan O., Negrini, Renata, Nyakundi, Livine O., Kuate, Serge P., Bandyopadhyay, Ranajit, Muiru, William M., Torto, Baldwyn, Mezzenga, Raffaele
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New Delhi Springer India 01.08.2016
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Aflatoxins
Analysis
Chemistry
Chemistry and Materials Science
Chemistry/Food Science
Contamination
Corn
Desiccants
Developing countries
Drying
Drying agents
Food contamination & poisoning
Food preservation
Food Science
Harvest
Hydrogels
LDCs
Liver cancer
Moisture absorption
Moisture content
Nutrition
Original
Original Article
Pollution control
Polymers
Ratios
Seeds
Studies
Temperature
Toxins
Zea mays
Postharvest
Superabsorbent polymers
Maize
Water sorption
Hydrogel
Aflatoxin
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Summary:The ability of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) in drying maize and controlling aflatoxin contamination was studied under different temperatures, drying times and SAP-to-maize ratios. Temperature and drying time showed significant influence on the aflatoxin formation. SAP-to-maize ratios between 1:1 and 1:5 showed little or no aflatoxin contamination after drying to the optimal moisture content (MC) of 13 %, while for ratios 1:10 and 1:20, aflatoxin contamination was not well controlled due to the overall higher MC and drying time, which made these ratios unsuitable for the drying process. Results clearly show that temperature, frequency of SAP change, drying time and SAP-to-maize ratio influenced the drying rate and aflatoxin contamination. Furthermore, it was shown that SAP had good potential for grain drying and can be used iteratively, which can make this system an optimal solution to reduce aflatoxin contamination in maize, particular for developing countries and resource-lacking areas.
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ISSN:0022-1155
0975-8402
DOI:10.1007/s13197-016-2289-6