Abstract
This research aimed to determine the effectiveness of ozone in the microbiological disinfection of maize grains. Two kg samples of maize grains were used with moisture contents of 14.4% (w.b.), and 94% and 97% of natural infection by Penicillium spp and Aspergillus spp, respectively. The gas was applied at a concentration of 2.14 mg L-1 and flow rate of 5.8 L min-1 for 370 min at 25 ºC ± 2 ºC in order to determine the ozone concentration and saturation time of the maize grains. The experiment was installed according to a split plot design, with two treatments in the plots (atmospheric air and ozone gas) and exposure times of (0, 10, 20, 30 and 50 h) in the subplots, in a completely randomized design. It was shown that the ozone concentration and saturation time in the grain mass were 0.9874 mg L-1 and 138.56 min, respectively. Ozonation was effective in controlling storage fungi in the grain mass with 50 h of exposure to the gas, reducing the rate of incidence of Aspergillus spp (78.5%) and Penicillium spp (98.0%), thereby confirming its fungicidal effect under the conditions presented.
Keywords:
Zea mays L.; Ozonation; Mycotoxigenic fungi; Aspergillus spp; Penicillium spp; Stored grains