Shelf-life study of peanuts by degrading Aflatoxin b1 using UV assisted fluidized bed drying

Abstract

Aflatoxins (AFTs) are group of secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus. parasiticus etc. AFTs contaminate foods, feeds, other raw ingredients used to produce them and that pose a significant threat to human health. These toxins are hydroxylated metabolites form of AFB1 and AFB2 are known as difuranocoumarin compounds. Naturally, these AFs have carcinogenic, teratogenic and mutagenic effects and caused several metabolic disorders. This study investigates the degradation of AFBI during the UV-Plasma assisted fluidized bed drying process in peanuts. In this research, a novel approach combining UV radiation and plasma technology with fluidized bed drying was employed to reduce micro-organisms and level of aflatoxin in peanuts. The system utilizes a fluidized bed dryer as the drying medium, which enhances mass and heat transfer, ensuring efficient decontamination. The study involves systematically varying process parameters like UV exposure time to assess the influence on AFBI degradation. Samples of contaminated peanuts are subjected to this UV treatment, and AFBI concentrations are monitored at specific time intervals using High Pressure Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) to determine the shelf life of raw peanuts. In this study, chemical quality of peanuts and degraded byproducts after treatment was also analyzed.