Rapid wetting method to reduce cyanogen content of cassava flour

J. Howard Bradbury*, Ian C. Denton

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    38 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In 2005 a simple wetting method was developed that reduced total cyanide content of cassava flour 3-6-fold. The method involved spreading wet flour in a thin layer and standing in the shade for five hours to allow evolution of HCN gas. We found that breakdown of linamarin catalysed by linamarase to acetone cyanohydrin, followed by its spontaneous decomposition to HCN and acetone was greatly increased by standing the wet flour in the sun. Treatment for two hours in the sun gave the same amount of total cyanide remaining as five hours in the shade. This rapid treatment in the sun may be more acceptable to rural women in Democratic Republic of Congo, than five hours in the shade. The two methods are offered as alternatives for use in rural Africa. With adequate linamarase present the residual cyanogen remaining after the wetting treatment was acetone cyanohydrin.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)591-594
    Number of pages4
    JournalFood Chemistry
    Volume121
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 15 Jul 2010

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