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Description
Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Among them, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) has garnered the most attention due to its toxigenic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic properties. Researchers worldwide have explored various strategies to mitigate the presence of these hazardous toxins. One of the most cost-effective approaches for reducing AFB1 contamination is the addition of clay as a toxin binder in animal feeds. Montmorillonite (MMT), a type of clay, exhibits excellent adsorption capacity for AFB1, non-toxic and safe for animals. MMT adsorbs AFB1 in the gastrointestinal tract, facilitating its excretion through feces and thereby reducing its toxic effects. Modification of MMT by heat treatment, also called calcination, can alter their adsorption characteristics and enhancing its ability to bind AFB1. In this study, the physical stucture and the adsorption capacity of a modified calcined MMT and raw MMT on AFB1 were compared. The adsorption capacity of AFB1 was evaluated through in vitro experiments. Each modified and raw MMT sample was mixed with AFB1 at a concentration of 100 ppb and incubated at 30°C for 2 hours under constant agitation at three different pH (pH 2.5, 5.2, and 6.6). Following centrifugation at 4,000 rpm for 30 minutes, the supernatant containing unbound AFB1 was analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The percentage of AFB1 adsorption was calculated by comparing its initial and final concentrations in the supernatant. The results indicated that MMT calcined at 300°C exhibited the highest AFB1 adsorption, with removal efficiencies of 79.19% at pH 2.5, 92.16% at pH 5.2, and 91.55% at pH 6.6. These values represent increases of 15.2%, 19.2%, and 5.87% of binding capacity, respectively, compared to raw MMT.
