Determination of the Aflatoxin levels in Corn (Zea mays, L.) during storage process

Abstract

Aflatoxin contaminant in corn being a serious problem, due to its toxicity. This contamination was influenced by the storage and treatment process. During storage, the aflatoxin level was influenced by the water content of corn seed. In this study, the water content were performed by gravimetric method, while the aflatoxin contents have been carried out by ELISA and HPLC methods. The corn seed samples were obtained from Tangerang, Cikande, and Cirebon. The results showed that the aflatoxin content were increased in fourth-week storage. The analysis of the aflatoxin content using the ELISA method showed that corn seed obtained from Tangerang, Cikande, and Cirebon were 74, 06 ppb; 9.33 ppb; 28.67 ppb respectively, while the HPLC method showed that the aflatoxin content were 75.02 ppb; 9.83 ppb; 28.43ppb respectively. The results also showed that the water content in the corn seed obtained from Tangerang, Cikande, and Cirebon were 10.64%; 10.17%, 10.25% respectively on fourth-week storage. In conclusion, the aflatoxin content in corn seed from Cikande and Cirebon were in accordance with SNI standards, while corn seed from Tangerang contain aflatoxin was above 50 ppb.