SUMMARY— Several existing mathematical models are investigated with respect to their range of applicability to biological materials. It is found that a logarithmic plot of vapor pressure of water in the material vs. vapor pressure of pure water can best describe the sorption phenomenon. The general form of the equation is: In P = f1 (W) In Ps+ f2 (W). The functions f1 (W) and f2 (W) may differ significantly from material to material. The method of determining these functional relationships is described in detail for rough rice and peanuts. The comparison of experimental and computed values for peanuts shows that this method can predict the required sorption isotherm data within 2% deviation from the experimental values.

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Unshelled Spanish peanuts contaminated with aflatoxin were shelled and treated with forced heated air, liquid nitrogen, H, 0,) HCl, sodium oleate, and water spray. After passing through a whole nut blancher the aflatoxin content and percentages of blanched (skin removed) and whole kernels were determined Blanching percentages were significantly higher for sodium oleate, water spray, liquid nitrogen, and H, 0, than for HCl or heat treatments. The heat treatment produced the highest percentage of whole kernels. In most tests, the unblanched kernels contained higher levels of aflatoxin than those that blanched fully. The treatments which were most effective in producing low levels of aflatoxin in the blanched kernels were H, 0, , water spray and HCl .