Simultaneous Removal of Aflatoxins B 1 , G 1 , B 2 , G 2 Using Local Crude Bentonites and Cell Walls of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae : An In Vitro Approach

ABSTRACT Contamination of food and feed by mycotoxins is a significant global safety concern because of their harmful effects on human and animal health. Toxin binders, which are added as adsorbents to animal feed play a crucial role in preserving animal health and enhancing food safety. They work by adsorbing and neutralizing toxins, preventing them from entering the body. This study aimed to evaluate the adsorption potential of local bentonites as a toxin binder for aflatoxins under laboratory conditions. The effects of different parameters, including toxin binder composition, sample pH, and time were studied. The BN5 bentonite sample performed the best in removing AFB1. Different aflatoxins exhibited remarkable resistance to pH change, and the removal efficiency was not significantly affected by pH. In addition, a mixture of BN5 (80% wt) and yeast cell wall (20% wt) enhanced the removal efficiency of AFB1. According to the obtained results, the optimum conditions to achieve the highest removal rate of aflatoxins using 30 mg of BN5:YCW mixture as the toxin binder are aflatoxins concentration of 36.75 ng mL −1 for AFB1 and AFG,1 and 7.35 ng mL −1 for AFB2 and AFG2, respectively, and removal efficiency of greater than 87%. The equilibrium adsorption data were well fitted to the Langmuir adsorption equation with a maximum adsorption capacity of 0.200 mg g −1 . The results showed that the binding of aflatoxins on the interlayer surfaces of bentonite is involved in chemical bonding mechanisms. However, in addition to its ability to remove other mycotoxins, this adsorbent should be evaluated in vivo.