An In-Vitro Evaluation of the Capacity of Local Tanzanian Crude Clay and Ash Based Materials in Binding Aflatoxins in Solution

Aflatoxins in feeds cause great health hazards to animals and in advance, to human. Potential of crude clays designated AC, KC, CC and MC and ashes VA and RA were evaluated for their capacity to adsorb aflatoxins B1 (AFB1), B2 (AFB2), G1 (AFG1) and G2 (AFG2) relative to a commercial binder MycobinderR (Evonik Industries AG) using in-vitro technique. On average, CC, VA, KC, MC, AC, RA and MycobindR adsorbed 39.9%, 51.3%, 61.5%, 62.0%, 72.6%, 84.7% and 98.1% of the total aflatoxins in buffered solution, respectively. The capacity of AC and RA was statistically (p<0.05) better in binding aflatoxins next to MycobindR. Capacity of the TBM and MycobindR to bind aflatoxins, seemed to follow the trend of their cation exchange capacity (CEC). The CEC (meq/100g) of CC, MC, KC, VA, AC, RA and MycobindR were 7.0, 15.4, 18.8, 25.4, 27.2, 27.2 and 38.9, respectively. On average 96.3%, 42.7%, 80.8% and 32.1% of AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 were adsorbed, respectively.  Binding capacity of the clays and ashes relative to MycobindR was about 100% for AC and RA, 50% for KC, MC and VA and 33.3% for CC.  The AC and RA seem to be promising resources in binding aflatoxins in solution.