Pyrolytic Conversion of Vomitoxin-Contaminated Corn into Value-Added Products

Deoxynivalenol (DON) (also called vomitoxin) is a mycotoxin caused by pathogens that periodically contaminate crops such as maize, wheat, barley, oats, and rye, making them unusable. We explored pyrolysis process for the decontamination of vomitoxin-corn grains their transformation into value-added products. Pyrolysis was carried out in bench-scale batch reactor at maximum temperatures between 450 650 °C. This resulted total destruction DON, from 5–7 ppm raw corn to non-detectable levels treated bio-char. The effect conditions, including temperature heating rate, on conversion toxic investigated. bio-oil yield achieved °C (47 wt.%). co-products were bio-char (29 wt.%) non-condensable gases (24 Acetic acid levoglucosan two major valuable components bio-oil, corresponding 26 g/kg 13 respectively. bio-chars analyzed upgraded physical activation using CO2 900 Activation increased surface area 419 m2g−1 promoted pore development, which verified SEM. Proximate analysis illustrated stable carbon 88.8% after compared 10.9% corn. FT-IR results showed thermally unstable functional groups had been completely eliminated activation. All characterization confirmed activated has excellent potential adsorption processes. HHV gas stream 16.46 MJ/Nm3, showing application this product an energy source.