High Sorption Efficiency of Purified Clinoptilolite-Tuff for Aflatoxins B1 and M1: A Case Study in Plant-Based Beverages and Milk

Aflatoxins (Afs) belong to the most hazardous mycotoxins. Their detrimental effects on humans and higher animals are widely known, and actions are poised to avoid their synthesis already in the developing plant. However, this is often not effective enough or even not practicable, and hence, contaminated food and feed are consumed, resulting in severe health impairment. The use of adsorbents is one of the possibilities for the reduction or impediment of the venomous action after the intake of toxic food and feed. Purified clinoptilolite-tuff (PCT) was used as a binder of aflatoxins B1 and M1 in experiments with plant-based beverages as matrices for AfB1, while milk and dairy products of cow, sheep, and goat were the respective media for AfM1 contamination. Human gastrointestinal conditions were simulated by adequate temperature, movement, pH values, incubation times, and artificial juices. Analyses were implemented by appropriate ELISA assays for both toxins. PCT showed high affinity and kinetic velocity for AfB1 and AfM1. It neutralized irreversibly almost all toxins used with only traces detected after desorption experiments. PCT eliminated both plant-based beverages as well as milk and dairy products efficiently in a dose-dependent manner. This may offer a powerful method for minimizing the health risks of unavoidable aflatoxin exposure.