Plantain seed mucilage-derived aerogel for microplastics removal in aged traditional Chinese spirit

Microplastic pollution is an increasing concern, and food-related items are at risk; for instance, stoppers of aged traditional Chinese spirit (TCS) may shed microplastics during long-term storage. In this study, plantain seed mucilage, an edible hydrophilic colloid, was used to prepare aerogel (PMA) for microplastic removal in aged TCS. PMA, mainly composed of xylose and exceeding 220 kDa in size, removed 93.68% of polystyrene microplastics via hydrogen bond interactions and its large specific surface area. The adsorbent remained robust, maintaining over 85% removal efficiency for 90 days, and effectively removed various microplastic types. Adsorption was influenced by temperature and pH, with heating enhancing performance, and PMA remaining stable at pH 4-10. Compared with other plant-derived colloid aerogels, PMA showed superior removal, and adsorption kinetics fit pseudo-second-order and the Freundlich models. These results demonstrate that PMA is a safe and cost-effective material for microplastic removal in food-related samples.