Sorption affinity of various stored products towards acrylonitrile.

Acrylonitrile (AN) was applied at the rate of 100 mg/l at 25-30 degree C to fumigate stored cereals, pulses and their products, oilseeds and cakes, spices, dried fruits, nuts, instant foods and infant foods, and the amount of AN absorbed within 24 h was determined. Sorption was very high ( greater than 400 p.p.m.) for paddy, wheat flour, cowpea, some split pulses, sesame, sunflower, coriander, cumin and papad; moderate (200-300 p.p.m.) for raisin, dry dates, figs, instant food beverages, maize, horse gram, pigeon pea, tamarind pulp and brown sugar; and low ( less than 200 p.p.m.) for refined sugar, glucose and some instant beverages.