Potential of Alkaline Hydrolysis for the Removal of Fumonisins from Contaminated Corn

Studies have shown that fumonisin B sub(1) (FB sub(1)) may undergo alkaline hydrolysis to yield its aminopentol (AP sub(1)) and tricarballylic acid moieties. Treatment of fumonisin-contaminated ground corn with 0.1 M calcium hydroxide, over a period of 24 h at room temperature, resulted in the transfer of the majority of the FB sub(1) (mean = 74.1%) to the easily separable aqueous fraction, where it was present predominantly as the AP sub(1) moiety. Following similar treatment of intact corn kernels, only 5.1% of the original FB sub(1) concentration was retained in those kernels devoid of their outer pericarp.