Optimization and assessment of high pressure extraction for simultaneous removal of cadmium and acetamiprid in Chrysanthemum morifolium via response surface methodology and modeling

• High pressure extraction was applied for simultaneous removal of Cd and acetamiprid. • Removal efficiency models of Cd and acetamiprid were established and optimized. • Detoxification efficacy were assessed by novel established prediction models. • High pressure extraction could reduce the Toxicity Index by 24.1%. Chrysanthemum morifolium is highly valued for its abundant health-promoting functional components, yet faces significant safety challenges from acetamiprid and cadmium (Cd), which have been proved synergistic toxicity. This study investigated high pressure extraction (HPE) as a post-harvest processing technology for simultaneous removal of Cd and acetamiprid in Chrysanthemum morifolium . The key HPE parameters to be analyzed were pressure (0.1-200 MPa), repetition times (1-5 times) and AcOH concentration (0-10%, v/v). Models of removal efficiency revealed that pressure exerted the strongest positive influence on Cd removal efficiency. AcOH concentration positively correlated with Cd removal efficiency but negatively impacted acetamiprid removal efficiency, while the trend for HPE repetition times was opposite. Response surface methodology was applied to optimize HPE parameters and the detoxification efficacy of optimized results were comprehensively assessed by novel established prediction models of Toxicity Index (TI). Within the range of the experimental conditions in this study, HPE parameters at 83 MPa, 5 repetitions and 0% AcOH concentration were determined as the optimal solution to achieve the lowest TI (76.2% of the control). When the retention of four functional components was simultaneously considered, optimized HPE parameters (78 MPa, 1 repetition and 0% AcOH) reduced TI by 13.6% while retaining 82.39%-89.06% of these components in Chrysanthemum morifolium . These results validated the technical feasibility of HPE for various targeted contaminant simultaneous mitigation.