The effect of exchangeable cations in clinoptilolite and montmorillonite on the adsorption of aflatoxin B1.
The research paper investigates the adsorption properties of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a potent mycotoxin, using two types of mineral adsorbents: clinoptilolite and montmorillonite. The study was conducted at 37 ºC and pH 3.8, simulating conditions similar to animal gastric juices. Both minerals were subjected to cation exchange, transitioning from their natural forms to sodium forms and then to forms rich in copper (Cu2+), zinc (Zn2+), and cobalt (Co2+). The results indicated that montmorillonite exhibited a higher degree of cation exchange compared to clinoptilolite, with montmorillonite achieving 76% exchange for Cu and 85% for Zn and Co, while clinoptilolite reached only 12% for Cu, 10% for Co, and 8% for Zn.
The study also measured the chemisorption indexes (c(c1)) for AFB1 adsorption, revealing that montmorillonite forms had varying indexes from 0.75 (Cu-exchanged) to 0.93 (Co-exchanged), while clinoptilolite forms showed higher values, ranging from 0.90 to 0.95. The findings suggest that both minerals effectively adsorb AFB1, with clinoptilolite generally demonstrating superior adsorption capabilities.
Additionally, the impact of these mineral adsorbents on essential microelements in animal feed (Cu, Zn, Co, and Mn) was assessed. The results indicated that Ca-rich montmorillonite significantly reduced the availability of these microelements compared to Ca-rich clinoptilolite, particularly for Cu and Co, which had higher chemisorption indexes on montmorillonite.
The study concludes that while both clinoptilolite and montmorillonite are effective in adsorbing AFB1, the choice of mineral and its cation form can influence both the adsorption efficiency and the retention of essential nutrients in animal feed.
This research paper is significant in the field of animal nutrition and mycotoxin management, as it provides insights into the use of natural mineral adsorbents to mitigate the toxic effects of aflatoxins in animal feed. Aflatoxins, particularly AFB1, pose serious health risks to livestock and can enter the food chain, affecting human health. The findings contribute to ongoing discussions about safe animal feed practices and the potential of using mineral adsorbents as a preventive measure against mycotoxicosis. The research highlights the importance of understanding the interactions between mineral adsorbents and essential nutrients, which is crucial for formulating balanced animal diets that minimize toxin exposure while ensuring adequate nutrient availability.
