Ethanol production by Zymomonas mobilis and Saccharomyces uvarum on aflatoxin-contaminated and ammonia-detoxified corn.

Zymomonas mobilis demonstrated greater fermentative activity than Saccharomyces uvarum during the 1st day in the fermentation of two lots of aflatoxin-contaminated corn and two corresponding lots of ammonia-detoxified corn. Final ethanol yields and conversion efficiencies were generally highest in Zymomonas fermentations of ammonia-detoxified corn. Aflatoxin levels in postfermentation solids from ammonia-detoxified corn all ranged below the Food and Drug Administration feedstuff guideline of < 20 parts per billion, whereas the amount of aflatoxin in postfermentation solids from aflatoxin-contaminated corn was greater than in the initial corn.