Emerging adsorbent systems for sugar-derived contaminants removal: Sustainable strategies for sugar processing...

Sugar-derived contaminants (SDCs), originating from sugar production and food/beverage industries, are emerging pollutants with diverse structures, persistence, and ecological toxicity. Resistant to conventional treatments, SDCs such as melanoidin, phenolics, and sucralose pose ecological risks, including metabolic disruptions and antibiotic resistance. This review highlights advancements in adsorption technologies, comparing conventional adsorbents (e.g., activated carbon) with emerging materials like chitosan composites and cellulose fibers, which offer enhanced selectivity and tunability. Mechanistic insights into adsorption behavior, supported by thermodynamic, kinetic, and molecular-level analyses, have further guided the precise design and optimization of next-generation adsorbents. However, challenges like trade-offs between selectivity and stability, manufacturing inconsistencies, and regeneration costs impede industrial adoption. Future research should focus on hybrid materials, cost-effective production, and integration into circular economy frameworks. Adsorption technologies hold transformative potential for SDCs mitigation, advancing wastewater treatment sustainability and global water resource protection.