Method for detoxifying foodstuffs
AssigneeAflatoxin Limited Partnership
InventorRussell R. Chapman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved method for de-toxifying aflatoxin contaminated foodstuffs is provided by pre-treating the contaminated foodstuff with a wetting agent prior to exposure to the de-toxicant. An aqueous solution of detergent or soap is a suitable wetting agent which can be applied to the foodstuff by spraying or immersion. Ammonia gas is the preferred de-toxicant. Once the wetting agent has been applied, the de-toxification reaction is exothermic so that little or no heat need be added to reach the elevated temperatures that facilitate rapid de-toxification. The process runs at atmospheric pressure in low cost vessels and may be accomplished in times of an hour or less without external heat sources.
Claims19
A process for decontaminating agricultural products contaminated with aflatoxins or the like, comprising:
- providing the contaminated product;
- exposing the contaminated product to a wetting agent comprising a mixture of water and a soap, detergent or combination thereof;
- thereafter heating the product by exothermic reaction of anhydrous ammonia gas with the wetting agent treated product.
A process for reducing the aflatoxin level of foodstuffs, comprising:
- providing a foodstuff contaminated with aflatoxin;
- coating the foodstuff with a wetting agent comprising a material which promotes the absorption of water by the foodstuff;
- and
- exothermically heating the wetting agent coated foodstuff by reaction with ammonia gas.
A process for reducing the aflatoxin level in foodstuff comprising, exposing a predetermined amount of foodstuff to a wetting agent comprising a mixture of water and a soap or detergent or both, and then exposing the foodstuff to cool gaseous ammonia and heating the foodstuff by exothermic reaction with the gaseous ammonia for a predetermined time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.