Highly efficient and recyclable ZnO@PCN-777 adsorbent for Aflatoxin M₁ removal from goat milk

Aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) contamination in milk and dairy products poses a serious food safety concern, especially in regions with limited regulatory oversight. This study developed a zinc oxide-zirconium metal-organic framework (ZnO@PCN-777) for efficient AFM₁ removal from goat milk. The composite exhibited a high adsorption capacity of 112.87 mg g^-1. Kinetic modeling indicated that the adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order model, while isotherm analysis conformed to the Freundlich model, suggesting multilayer adsorption on a heterogeneous surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis identified hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking interactions, and pore-filling effects as the primary mechanisms of AFM₁ adsorption, with their synergistic action enhancing overall efficiency. ZnO@PCN-777 maintained excellent reusability across 15 adsorption-desorption cycles. In real milk samples, adding 0.075 % (w/w) of the adsorbent achieved a 93 % AFM₁ removal rate without affecting milk quality, demonstrating a strong potential for dairy detoxification applications.