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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Raleigh, North Carolina » Market Quality and Handling Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #281852
Title: Development of a Pilot Scale Process to Sequester Aflatoxin and Release Bioactive Peptides from Highly Contaminated Peanut Meal

Author
item White, Brittany
item OAKES, AARON - North Carolina State University
item SHI, XIAOLEI - North Carolina State University
item Price, Kristin
item Lamb, Marshall
item Sobolev, Victor
item Sanders, Timothy
item Davis, Jack

Submitted to: LWT - Food Science and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/13/2013
Publication Date: 5/28/2013
Citation: White, B.L., Oakes, A.J., Shi, X., Price, K.M., Lamb, M.C., Sobolev, V., Sanders, T.H., Davis, J.P. 2013. Development of a Pilot Scale Process to Sequester Aflatoxin and Release Bioactive Peptides from Highly Contaminated Peanut Meal. LWT - Food Science and Technology. 51(2)492-499.

Interpretive Summary: Peanut meal is the high protein, low oil material that remains after commercial extraction of oil from peanut seed. Despite its high protein content, the feed value of peanut meal is limited due to the typically high aflatoxin levels associated with this byproduct. In this study, we present a scaled-up process for adding value to aflatoxin contaminated peanut meal. Central to this process was the application of bentonite clays to sequester aflatoxin and hence make the toxins biologically unavailable. Various clays and conditions were evaluated, and overall this novel process was shown to be viable at the pilot-level, suggesting eventual commercial implementation of this process is feasible.

Technical Abstract: Peanut meal (PM) is the high protein by-product remaining after commercial extraction of peanut oil. PM applications are limited because of typical high concentrations of aflatoxin. For the first time, pilot-scale extraction of protein and sequestration of aflatoxin from PM were evaluated. Aqueous PM dispersions were mixed with two commercial bentonite clays and Alcalase in a jacketed mixer, hydrolyzed for 1 h, heated to inactive protease, and solids and liquids were separated using a decanter. Liquid hydrolysates derived from this process had > 90% reduction in aflatoxin when clay was present. ACE-inhibitory activities of these hydrolysates suggest a potential benefit for blood pressure regulation. The insoluble fractions from the dispersions were dried and used in a separate turkey poult feeding study. These results indicate that scale-up of this novel process is feasible and offers a means for adding value to this underutilized protein source.