Ozone effects on toxicity of wheat grain and grain mixtures

Abstract

Wheat grain is one of the most valuable crops, as it is rich in gluten proteins and other valuable substances. Currently, the food industry and the grain market place high demands on the quality of wheat grain. However, individual batches of grain have toxic properties as a result of the content of heavy metals, harmful mycoflora. Grain mixtures can be even more toxic due to their fine structure. In this regard, the search for effective ways to reduce the overall toxicity of grain and grain mixtures is of scientific and practical interest. One of the most environmentally promising methods of grain disinfection is ozonization. A number of experiments on the effects of ozone on the toxicity of grain and grain mixtures have been conducted at the Stavropol State Agrarian University. To determine the objective picture of the state of grain and feed in the research laboratory using biotesting, 40 samples of wheat grain and 94 samples of grain mixtures from different agroclimatic zones of Russia were examined for general toxicity. As a result, it was found that nineteen samples of forty grains had moderate and high toxicity. Thus, the assumption was confirmed about the need to find ways to reduce the toxicity of grain and forage in order to ensure the safety of feeding animals and poultry. To accomplish this goal, we conducted a series of experiments on disinfection of wheat grain and grain mixtures with ozone in various modes. The ozone concentration was determined using a Cyclone-5.41 gas analyzer. The processing of wheat and grain mixtures was carried out with an ozone generator “Ozone-60P” with a plant capacity of 60 g·h -1 . As a result of the research, the effect of ozone on the reduction of the toxicity of wheat grain and grain mixtures was found. The article presents the optimal modes of disinfection of wheat and grain mixtures with ozone to reduce the overall toxicity.