Preventing Aflatoxin Production in Corn by In-Store Drying

Abstract

The objective of this research was to investigate the prevention of aflatoxin production and energy consumption in the prototype system of in-store corn drying. The air was ventilated periodically through the corn bulk. The experimental results showed that the uniform air ventilated through the corn bulk was accomplished. For corn drying using ambient air, the amount of aflatoxin B-1 production at the end of drying in case of 23.4% wet-basis initial moisture content of corn was higher than that in case of 18.7% and 18.9% wet-basis initial moisture content of corn. To preserve the quality of corn by controlling the amount of alflatoxin, the initial moisture content of corn should not be higher than 19% wet-basis but if initial moisture content of corn was higher than 19% wet-basis, it should be dried to 18-19% wet basis within 2 days and continually dried to 14% wet-basis within 14 days. When corn was dried from 19% to 12% - 13% wet- basis by using ambient air with specific air flow rate of 3.6-4.6 m³/min-m³ of corn, energy consumption was 0.46-0.9 MJ/kg water evaporate and electricity cast was 16-27 baht/ton of corn.