Methods for separating and extracting microplastics from food systems

The ubiquitous presence of microplastics as an emerging contaminant in the ecosystem has become an environmental issue attracting signifi cant attention in the research community as well as in public life. Lack of eff ective collection and poor management of plastic has resulted in huge amounts of plastic waste ending up in marine systems as well as agricultural lands. Because they are not biodegradable, these plastics break down over time into smaller pieces called microplastics. In recent years, a wide range of food products have been contaminated with microplastics, which directly aff ects human health. This article reviews technologies for separating and extracting microplastics from food systems. Eff ective methods such as fl otation, membrane separation, chemical treatment, enzymatic treatment, and various other methods are reviewed, taking into account their advantages and disadvantages.