CHARACTERIZATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF DURIAN PEEL AS A MULTI-MYCOTOXIN ADSORBENT

Durian peel (DP) is an agricultural waste that is widely used in dyes, and for organic and inorganic pollutant adsorption. In this study, durian peel was acid treated to enhance its mycotoxin adsorption efficacy. This acid-treated durian peel (ATDP) was assessed for simultaneous adsorption of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEA), deoxynivalenol (DON), and fumonisin B1 (FB1). Adsorption experiments were performed on ATDP at 0.5% (w/v) dosage, using multi-mycotoxin solutions containing 1 ?g mL-1 of each toxin, in media of pH 3 and 7. The structure of the ATDP was characterized by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and surfacearea analyzer. ATDP exhibited the highest mycotoxin adsorption towards AFB1 (98.4%), ZEA (98.4%), and OTA (97.3%), followed by FB1 (86.1%), and DON (2.0%). The pH significantly affected OTA and FB1 adsorption, whereas AFB1 and ZEA adsorption was not affected. Structural characterization showed more cavities in the ATDP surface compared to the untreated material (DP). C and O were the major elements on its surface. Acid treatment of DP changed the functional groups and charge of the adsorbent material. ATDP showed higher Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) pore volumes, pore diameters, and BET surface area. These structural changes following acid treatment may explain the higher efficacy of ATDP in adsorbing mycotoxins. Hence, ATDP can be considered as a promising waste material for mycotoxin biosorption