POTENTIAL OF ALKALINE-HYDROLYSIS FOR THE REMOVAL OF FUMONISINS FROM CONTAMINATED CORN

Studies have shown that fumonisin B-1 (FB1) may undergo alkaline hydrolysis to yield its aminopentol (AP(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 FB1 (mean = 74.1%) to the easily separable aqueous fraction, where it was present predominantly as the AP(1) moiety. Following similar treatment of intact corn kernels, only 5.1% of the original FB1 concentration was retained in those kernels devoid of their outer pericarp.