Self-Sufficient Aflatoxin Decontamination System: MOF-Based Composite Membrane with Peroxidase-Mimic and Controlled...

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry

Background:

• Aflatoxins B1 (AFB1) and M1 (AFM1) are carcinogenic mycotoxins in dairy products, posing significant food safety risks.
• Conventional mycotoxin degradation methods suffer from low efficiency and high energy requirements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an innovative composite membrane for effective and safe removal of aflatoxins from milk.
• To integrate adsorption and catalytic degradation mechanisms for enhanced mycotoxin detoxification.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composite membrane incorporating Fe/Co-based metal-organic frameworks (Fe/Co-MIL-88B(NH2)) and calcium peroxide (CaO2).
• Utilizing the hierarchical porous structure of MOFs for adsorption and peroxidase-like catalysis.
• Employing CaO2 as a controlled hydrogen peroxide donor for reactive oxygen species generation.

Main Results:

• The composite membrane achieved over 95% degradation efficiency for both AFB1 and AFM1 within 60 minutes.
• The system demonstrated high operational stability over 10 cycles with minimal nutrient damage to milk.
• The membrane effectively prevented nanozyme aggregation and ensured uniform distribution of active components.

Conclusions:

• The developed PVDF/Fe/Co-MOF/CaO2 membrane offers an efficient, reusable, and stable detoxification method for mycotoxins in dairy products.
• This technology provides a promising approach for aflatoxin mitigation by controlling reactive oxygen species generation.
• The study highlights the potential for advanced materials in ensuring food safety and preserving milk quality.