In vitro adsorption of zearalenone by cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide-modified montmorillonite nanocomposites

In vitro adsorption of zearalenone (ZEA) by cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB)-modified montmorillonite nanocomposites (CMN) was investigated. The particle size of CMN was below 38.06 nm determined with atomic force microscopes. The maximum adsorption of ZEA by CMN at 37 °C and pH 7.0 was 8.83 and 5.07 mg/g calculated with Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms, respectively, whereas the maximum adsorption by MN was 0.60 and 0.19 mg/g, respectively. The effect of pH, temperature, ZEA concentration, and adsorbent concentration on ZEA adsorption were also studied and they all had certain influence on ZEA adsorption, especially the pH. The coexistence of Ca2+, Fe3+, Fe2+, vitamin E and/or lysine showed no significant influence on ZEA adsorption by CMN, suggesting that the nanograde particle size and hydrophobic property of CMN are responsible for the specific adsorption. These results suggest that CMN has the potential as a novel and promising nanograde adsorbent to bind the mycotoxin effectively in the animal gastrointestinal tract to reduce its absorption.