Effect of Ozone Gas on Degradation of Aflatoxin B1 and Aspergillus

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the most important agricultural crops. Requirements, wheat must be produced free of hazardous contaminants. However, previous investigations showed that wheat could be contaminated by aflatoxins above the limits that may be critical for health. In this study, use of the high oxidising power of ozone achieved degradation of aflatoxin B 1 . Samples were subjected to ozonation at various ozone concentrations (20, 40ppm) and exposure time (5, 10, 15, 20 min). The reduction percentages of aflatoxin B 1 in artificially contaminated wheat 10 µg/kg were 84.1 and 86.75% after exposures to 20 and 40 ppm ozone for 20min respectively, and 86.7 and 96.66 % with 20 µg/kg after exposures 20 and 40 ppm ozone for 20 min, respectively. The percentage of inhibition zone from Aspergillus flavus was 46.4 % to 87.8 % after ozonation using concentration 20 ppm for 5 and 20 min respectively. While with 40 ppm ozone inhibition zone was 65.6% and 95.6 % with 5 and 20 min respectively. Exposure of strain to 20 ppm ozone inhibition of product of AFB 1 percentage of 40.94%, 52.5%, 59.32% and 60.4 % for exposure time 5, 10, 15 and 20 min, respectively. However, observed increase on inhibition of AFB1 with topping up ozone dose to 40 ppm attained 55.2%, 64%, 74.5% and 77.2% with 5, 10, 15 and 20 min exposure time respectively.