Bifunctional clay based sorbent for 'Ochratoxin A' removal and wine fining

• Published in: Food chemistry 2023-08, Vol.416, p.135827-135827, Article 135827
• Main Authors: Alford, Roi, Mishael, Yael G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bentonite - chemistry; Bentonite fining; Clay; Clay-polymer; Ochratoxin A; Ochratoxins - analysis; Polymers; Sedimentation; Vitis - chemistry; Wine - analysis; Wine clarification
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.135827

[Display omitted] •Clay polymer composite developed for Ochratoxin A removal from wine and grape juice.•Toxin adsorption by new composite was three times higher than by commercial clay.•Composite outperformed clay in sedimentation rate, beverage quality and loss.•High potential to apply the composite for wine and grape juice treatment. The treatment of Ochratoxin A (OTA), present in many agricultural commodities including wine, is unsatisfying even by adsorption to fining agents, such as the commercial clay montmorillonite (MMT), bentonite. We developed, characterized and tested new clay-polymer nanocomposites (CPNs) to optimize OTA treatment, adsorption and OTA-CPN removal by sedimentation, while maintaining product quality. OTA adsorption to the CPNs was optimized, fast and high, by varying polymer chemistry and configuration. OTA adsorption from grape juice was nearly 3 times higher by the CPN than by the MMT despite the larger particle size of the CPN, 125 vs. 3 µm, explained by diverse OTA-CPN interactions. The CPN outperformed MMT in terms of sedimentation rate (2–4 orders of magnitude faster), grape juice quality and volume loss (an order of magnitude less), highlighting the potential of applying composites for the removal of target molecules form beverages.