Abstract
Samples from 17 loads of farmers stock peanuts suspected of containing aflatoxin were screened over a belt cleaner, shelled, and sorted into grade components. Tests showed that removal of loose shelled kernels (LSK) and small pods by belt screening reduced aflatoxin levels by an average of 35%. Belt screening removed 97% by weight of the LSK, but only 4% of the sound mature kernels and sound splits (SMK+SS). Further removal of other edibles (OE), oil stock (OS), LSK, and damaged kernels (DK) from the peanuts riding over (OVERS) the belt screen reduced aflatoxin levels from an average of 110.7 ppb in the unscreened load to 3.8 ppb in SMK+SS. The OE, OS, LSK and DK were removed from the OVERS through the use of slotted screens and by sorting.