Isothermal Adsorption of Aflatoxin B₁ on HSCAS Clay

Abstract

Previously, hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS), a phyllosilicate clay of the smectite class, was shown to tightly bind aflatoxins and prevent aflatoxicosis in animals. HSCAS is a commercial feed additive that is approved to be used as an anticaking agent. In this study, aflatoxin B(1) (AfB(1)) was isothermally mixed with HSCAS at 15, 25, and 37 degrees C to study the adsorption process. An L adsorption isotherm was characterized from the data, which were fitted to multiple isotherm equations (i.e., Langmuir, multi-Langmuir, general Freundlich, Langmuir-Freundlich combination, Toth, and various transforms of these equations). Information derived from the isotherm equations included capacity, affinity, average capacity, enthalpy of binding, heterogeneity coefficient, multiple site distribution coefficients, and a multisite capacity. Physical characteristics of AfB(1) and HSCAS were measured and modeled to further the understanding of the adsorption process. The data obtained support the hypothesis that AfB(1) chemisorbs to different sites on HSCAS which could include the interlamellar region, edges, and basal surfaces of HSCAS particles.