Value-Added Processing of Peanut Meal: Aflatoxin Sequestration during Protein Extraction

The efficacy of a bentonite clay, Astra-Ben 20A (AB20A), to sequester aflatoxin from contaminated (∼110 ppb) peanut meal during protein extraction was studied. Aqueous peanut meal dispersions (10% w/w) were prepared by varying the pH, temperature, enzymatic hydrolysis conditions, and concentrations of AB20A. After extraction, dispersions were centrifuged and filtered to separate both the water-soluble and the water-insoluble fractions for subsequent testing. Inclusion of AB20A at 0.2 and 2% reduced (p < 0.05) aflatoxin concentrations below 20 ppb in both fractions; however, the higher concentration of AB20A also reduced (p < 0.05) the water-soluble protein content. Inclusion of 0.2% AB20A did not affect protein solubility, total soluble solids, or degree of hydrolysis. Peanut meal adsorption isotherms measured the AB20A capacity to sequester aflatoxin. These results are discussed in the context of a process designed to sequester aflatoxin from contaminated peanut meal, which could enable derivatives of this high protein material to be utilized in enhanced feed and/or food applications.