Abstract
Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin and constitutes a potential health threat to humans and livestock. This study aimed to explore the potential of albite modified by the cationic surfactant cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as ZEN adsorbent. The organoalbite (OA) was characterized by SEM analysis, XRD analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and BET gas sorption measurement. In vitro adsorption of ZEN by OA was carried out by simulating the pH conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. The characterization results showed that the surface of OA changed from hydrophilic to hydrophobic after modification. Adsorption kinetic studies showed that ZEN adsorption behavior of OA occurred by chemisorption. The equilibrium adsorption data fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm, indicating that the adsorption process of ZEN by OA was monolayer. The maximum adsorption capacity (qm) values of OA for ZEN were 10.580 and 9.287 mg/g at pH 7 and pH 3, respectively. In addition, OA had a low desorption rate (about 2%), and co-existing amino acids (i.e., Lys and Met), vitamins (i.e., VB1 and VE), and minerals (i.e., Fe2+ and Ca2+) did not affect the removal of ZEN. These results demonstrate that OA could be a promising mycotoxin adsorbent for removing the hydrophobic, weakly polar ZEN.
Highlights
Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by certain fungi that accumulate in maturing corn, cereals, and other food and feed crops [1]
Ca2+ ) did not affect the removal of ZEN. These results demonstrate that OA could be a promising mycotoxin adsorbent for removing the hydrophobic, weakly polar ZEN
The characterization results indicate that the loading of organic cationic surfactants increased the organic carbon content and converted the surface of NA from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, which facilitated the removal of ZEN
Summary
Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by certain fungi that accumulate in maturing corn, cereals, and other food and feed crops [1]. Their presence in cereal crops causes economic losses, and affects human health and animal productivity as a result of indirect exposure [2]. Zearalenone (ZEN), a common estrogenic mycotoxin produced by Fusarium fungi, demonstrates immunotoxic, genotoxic, hyperestrogenic, hematotoxic, carcinogenic, hepatotoxic, and teratogenic effects on a variety of mammalian species [2]. The detoxification strategies for mycotoxins are mainly chemical, biological, and physical processes. Previous studies have shown that mycotoxins could be eliminated by chemicals such as Toxins 2019, 11, 674; doi:10.3390/toxins11110674 www.mdpi.com/journal/toxins
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