Removal of aflatoxin from peanuts

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to removal of aflatoxin from seeds or nuts. More particularly, the invention pertains to the removal of aflatoxin from peanuts by extraction with methoxymethane.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#Into a stainless-steel shaker bomb there was charged 980 grams of ground peanuts contaminated with 0-2 parts per billion of aflatoxin. The ground peanuts were extracted with 6 successive treatments of about 2 pounds (about 900 grams) each of methoxymethane. The extractions were carried out at about room temperature and each extraction took from about 10 to 15 minutes with constant shaking. Analysis of the extracts obtained was as follows:

#______________________________________ MOM, Extraction Weight of Total Wt. Extraction Pounds Time, Min. Extract, q. Extracted ______________________________________ 1 2 10 70 70 2 2 10 153 223 3 2 10 123 346 4 2 10 60 406 5 2.5 15 18 424 6 2.5 15 10 434 ______________________________________

#The stainless-steel shaker bomb was cleaned out and the extracted peanuts weighed 448 g. Analysis of the aflatoxin contamination by thin-layer chromatography as described in current publications (see, for instance, Official Methods of Analysis of The Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) 12th Ed. 1975, published by AOAC, Washington, D.C., pg. 465, Method 1 (CB Method) 26.014) gave the following results: