Early detection of quality alterations in corn grains stored in vertical prototype silos using real-time monitoring of carbon dioxide and equilibrium moisture content

Abstract

Early detection of the deterioration of grain stored in vertical silos would benefit food safety in these systems. Real-time monitoring of the intergranular variables - temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide and moisture content – was used to determine equilibrium moisture content and dry matter loss in corn stored in vertical prototype silos. Quantitative relationships were established for changes in quality variables – germination rate, apparent specific mass, starch content, protein solubility, pasting metrics, lipid activity and mycotoxin contamination. The results demonstrate that integrated monitoring of the equilibrium moisture content and carbon dioxide concentration in the stored corn mass can inform decision making for ideal storage time, loss reduction and food safety.