Ultrasound-Assisted Microextraction for Food Chemical Contaminant Analysis: A Review

Ultrasound-assisted microextraction (UAME) has emerged as a powerful and sustainable technique for food chemical contaminant analysis, offering a rapid, efficient, and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional extraction methods. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the application of UAME for the determination of various food chemical contaminants, including pesticide residues, potentially toxic elements, mycotoxins, veterinary drugs, and other chemical contaminants. The fundamental principles of ultrasound-assisted extraction are discussed, with an emphasis on the mechanisms of acoustic cavitation and mass transfer enhancement that enable improved analyte recovery from complex food matrices. Key factors influencing extraction efficiency (solvent selection, ultrasonic frequency and power, extraction time, and sample characteristics) were critically analyzed. Additionally, the integration of UAME with modern analytical platforms, such as LC-MS, GC-MS, and ICP-MS, was explored, highlighting its compatibility with high-throughput and multiresidue detection. Compared with traditional techniques, UAME offers significant benefits, including reduced solvent consumption, shorter extraction times, and improved analytical performance. This review also addresses current limitations and future perspectives, particularly regarding standardization, automation, and application in routine food safety monitoring. Overall, UAME represents a promising direction for more sustainable and efficient food chemical contaminant analysis, aligning with the growing demand for green analytical chemistry approaches.