Real-time CO₂ monitoring for early detection of grain spoilage and mycotoxin contamination.

IF 3.5 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture Pub Date : 2025-08-28 DOI:10.1002/jsfa.70151

Elisavet Kiaitsi, Sandro Zanardi, Michael Sulyok, Angel Medina, Ben Ingram, Michele Suman, Esther Garcia-Cela

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Abstract

Background: This study aimed to compare the use of real-time CO₂, temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) sensors as indicators of stored grain quality management, specifically for early detection of mould activity and mycotoxin contamination. Initial experiments were conducted using mini-silos containing naturally contaminated wheat grain (1.5 kg) stored at different moisture contents of 15-30% (water activity, a_w = 0.78 to 0.98), to evaluate their effects on grain respiration.

Results: Respiration rates and dry matter losses increased with grain moisture content. A larger-scale, nine-month study was then conducted using two pilot-scale silos (2.5 t; 1400 cm diameter; 2050 cm height) equipped with ATEX-compliant CO₂/RH/T sensors. A 'wet pocket' was simulated by introducing water to a localised area to mimic a water ingress event. This led to a rapid rise in CO₂ levels while T remained relatively stable. Mycotoxin analyses of the affected and unaffected regions showed a clear increase in the concentration and diversity of mycotoxins, particularly aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, deoxynivalenol, deoxynivaenol-3-glucoside and moniliformin, in the wet pocket area.

Conclusion: Real-time CO₂ monitoring provided a faster and more sensitive indication of spoilage and mycotoxin risk compared to T and RH measurements. This highlights the potential for developing early-warning systems for stored grain management based predominantly on continuous CO₂ monitoring. © 2025 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

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实时CO2监测，早期发现粮食腐败和霉菌毒素污染。

背景：本研究旨在比较实时CO2、温度(T)和相对湿度（RH）传感器作为储粮质量管理指标的使用情况，特别是用于霉菌活性和霉菌毒素污染的早期检测。试验采用小筒仓对自然污染的小麦籽粒（1.5 kg）进行初步试验，研究不同含水量15 ~ 30%（水分活度aw = 0.78 ~ 0.98）的小麦籽粒呼吸的影响。结果：呼吸速率和干物质损失随籽粒含水量的增加而增加。随后进行了为期9个月的大规模研究，使用了两个中试规模的筒仓（2.5吨，直径1400厘米，高度2050厘米），配备了符合atex标准的CO2/RH/ t传感器。通过将水引入局部区域来模拟水进入事件，模拟了一个“湿口袋”。这导致二氧化碳水平迅速上升，而T保持相对稳定。霉菌毒素分析显示，湿口袋区霉菌毒素浓度和多样性明显增加，特别是黄曲霉毒素B1、黄曲霉毒素B2、脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇、脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇-3-葡萄糖苷和moniliformin。结论：与T和RH测量相比，实时CO2监测提供了更快、更灵敏的腐败和霉菌毒素风险指示。这突出了开发主要基于连续二氧化碳监测的储粮管理预警系统的潜力。©2025作者。约翰威利父子有限公司代表化学工业协会出版的《食品与农业科学杂志》。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 工程技术-农业综合

CiteScore

8.10

自引率

4.90%

发文量

634

审稿时长

3.1 months

期刊介绍： The Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture publishes peer-reviewed original research, reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives and spotlights in these areas, with particular emphasis on interdisciplinary studies at the agriculture/ food interface. Published for SCI by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. SCI (Society of Chemical Industry) is a unique international forum where science meets business on independent, impartial ground. Anyone can join and current Members include consumers, business people, environmentalists, industrialists, farmers, and researchers. The Society offers a chance to share information between sectors as diverse as food and agriculture, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, materials, chemicals, environmental science and safety. As well as organising educational events, SCI awards a number of prestigious honours and scholarships each year, publishes peer-reviewed journals, and provides Members with news from their sectors in the respected magazine, Chemistry & Industry . Originally established in London in 1881 and in New York in 1894, SCI is a registered charity with Members in over 70 countries.