Abstract :
[en] Aflatoxins, identified as carcinogenic mycotoxins belonging to Group 1 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, pose a substantial risk to global food safety. These contaminants are present in diverse food sources such as wheat, rice, corn, milk, spices, and nuts. To address health concerns linked to aflatoxin exposure, global regulatory bodies have set maximum limits for aflatoxins in food products, necessitating thorough pre-trade analyses by producers. Existing official methods for aflatoxin analysis rely on organic mixtures, generating considerable waste1. In response to the increasing emphasis on sustainable analytical practices, especially in food chemistry and safety, this study suggests an innovative and environmentally friendly approach using Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) for the extraction and quantification of aflatoxins from pistachios—an economically valuable commodity prone to contamination in hot and arid regions. DES, a recent class of alternative solvents, comprises a binary mixture with a hydrogen bond donor and acceptor in specific molar ratios, allowing their use at room temperature. Numerous DESs have exhibited non-toxicity, biodegradability, and effective extraction capabilities for various target compounds2. The extraction process was optimized using a Design of Experiment. Considering the complex nature of extracts from aflatoxin-contaminated pistachios, a necessary clean-up and concentration step involved dilution with water and passage through a C-18 solid phase extraction cartridge. The trapped aflatoxins were subsequently eluted with a minimal amount of methanol and analyzed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a fluorometer detector, equipped with a partially porous C18 column. This study illustrates the feasibility of utilizing DES as extraction media for aflatoxins in a complex matrix, diminishing dependence on conventional solvents and minimizing process waste. The developed method demonstrated robustness and reliability, achieving an inter-day repeatability lower than 2.94% (CV%) for each analyte, with limits of quantification below 0.72 ng/g. Recoveries for individual aflatoxins were as follows: 86.8% for AFB1, 83.0% for AFB2, 99.1% for AFG1, and 89.1% for AFG2. Additionally, the environmental sustainability of the method was quantified and evaluated using two distinct metrics. This inventive approach aligns with the ongoing trend towards more environmentally conscious analytical practices in the field of food safety.
