Hybrid sonics for multi-pollutant removal from food matrices: A review

Yearly approximately 600 million individuals worldwide become ill from ingesting polluted food, stressing the vital need for advancements in standard safety measures. To address this critical challenge, this article critically discusses a next-generation, cavitation-powered hybrid sonics framework that pairs ultrasound-driven microjets with advanced complementary methods with advanced oxidation (Sono-AOP), cold plasma, deep eutectic solvent chelation (Sono-DES), and pulsed electric fields (Sono-PEF) to simultaneously eliminate multiple contaminants, including pesticides, mycotoxins, toxic metals, microplastics, and pathogens. AI-assisted models are being explored to optimize sonication efficiency and process control in hybrid food systems. Findings from experimental and pilot-scale studies show that these hybrid systems can achieve removal efficiencies higher than 90 %, thereby proving to be significantly superiorz to conventional approaches in energy use, water consumption, and chemical necessities. Crucially, the paper compares these hybrid techniques and highlights the different impacts of sonication on food quality and functionality as well as the methods for preserving product quality, integrating standard analytical assays (e.g., Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)) into protocols to maintain nutritional integrity and sensory attributes. Further, the paper discusses the sustainability of industrial scalability, regulatory considerations, and real-time quality control. Ultimately, this hybrid sonics blueprint presents a robust and eco-friendly strategy, aligning food safety with sustainability goals.