Separation and purification of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2, and comparison of semi-synthetic aflatoxins B2 and G2 with naturally-occurring aflatoxins B2 and G2

A method is described for the isolation of highly purified aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁ and G₂ from extracts ofAspergillus flavus. The four aflatoxins, isolated from background impurities by rapid passage of the extracts through an acid alumina column, are separated from each other by chromatography on a silica gel column. Aflatoxins B₂ and G₂ are prepared by hydrogenation of the mixture of aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁ and G₂ and then separated by elution from a silica gel column with chloroform containing 0.7% ethanol. A comparison of semi-synthetic aflatoxins B₂ and G₂ with naturally-occurring aflatoxins B₂ and G₂ shows no significant difference in physical properties. Presented at the AOCS-AACC Meeting, Washington, D.C. April, 1968.