Propionic acid for storage of high moisture soybeans

Soybeans at 18 and 22% moisture were treated and stored by adding 0.75% by weight of propionic acid. No heating was observed in the acid-treated beans during the 10-week storage period. Mold counts of the treated samples were much lower than the controls. The lack of fungal activity suggests that the probability of mycotoxin production during storage is very low. Propionic acid treatment almost eliminated the ability of the soybeans to germinate. Prior to treatment germination had been 96%. No significant shifts in fatty acid composition of the extracted oils were observed. Oil quality did not deteriorate after treatment with propionic acid. The data indicate that propionic acid can be used successfully to preserve high moisture soybeans.