Aflatoxin B1 adsorption by the concentrate of bentonite clay -
montmorillonite and the natural zeolite - clinoptilolite and was investigated
at the initial toxin concentration 4 ppm, with different amonunts of solid
phase in suspension (10, 5, 2 and 1 mg/10 mL) and different pH values - 3, 7
and 9. Results indicated that for both minerals, decreasing the amount of
solid phase in suspension, decrease the amount of active sites relevant for
adsorption of aflatoxin B1. Thus, for concentrate of montnorillonite, at the
lowest level of solid phase in suspension (1 mg/10 mL), aflatoxin B1
adsorption indexes were 97% at pH 3, 88% at pH 7 and 82% at pH 9, while for
the natural zeolite, adsorption of toxin was 9% at pH 3 and 7% at pH 7 and 9.
Since inorganic cations in minerals are mainly responsible for aflatoxin B1
adsorption, even the natural zeolite - clinoptilite has much higher cation
exchange capacity (the content of inorganic exchangeable cations) compared to
the concentrate of montmorillonite, adsorption of aflatoxin B1 by this
mineral is much lower. Comparing the molecular dimensions of aflatoxin B1
molecule with the dimension of channels of clinoptilolite and interlamellar
space of montmorillonite it is obvious that this toxin is adsorbed only at
the external surface of clinoptilolite while in the montmorillonite all
active sites are equally available for its adsorption. Thus, the concentrate
of montmorillonite posess by higher adsorption capacity for aflatoxin B1.
Results presented in this paper confirmed the fact the differences in the
structure of minerals led to their different efficiency for adsorption of
aflatoxin B1. Mineralogical and chemical composition, determination of cation
exchange capacity, etc., are very important parameters influencing the
effectiveness of minerals as aflatoxin B1 adsorbents. [Projekat Ministarstva
nauke Republike Srbije, br. 451-03-2802-IP Tip1/142, br. 172018 i br. 34013] <br><br><font color="red"><b> This article has been corrected. Link to the correction <u><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.2298/HEMIND170208003E">10.2298/HEMIND170208003E</a><u></b></font>