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

Studies have shown that fumonisin B-1 (FB1) may undergo alkaline hydro lysis to yield its aminopentol (AP(1)) and tricarballylic acid moietie s. 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 separ able 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 devoi d of their outer pericarp.