Efficient and simple simultaneous adsorption removal of multiple aflatoxins from various liquid foods

In this study, a polydopamine modified nanofibers membrane (PDA-PS NFsM) was prepared and evaluated as the adsorbent for simultaneous removal of a variety of aflatoxins in various liquid foods, including edible oil, soy sauce and milk, rice vinegar and liquor. The removal efficiency for every single aflatoxin from all samples involved above was more than 76.5% within 1 h at 25 °C, except the liquors with higher ethanol content, for which the efficiency was lower. Moreover, PDA-PS NFsM can be removed directly after the adsorption process without any subsequent separation. The results suggested that the adsorption mechanism of the aflatoxins onto PDA-PS NFsM was chemisorption-based spontaneous endothermic reaction and aflatoxins were adsorbed by electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding and π-π interaction. This study confirmed that the PDA-PS NFsM has a good practical application potential in the simultaneous removal of a variety of aflatoxins from various liquid foods.