Adsorptive removal of additive potent organic toxicants from beverages and contaminated waters: A critical review of adsorbent materials, kinetics, isotherms, thermodynamics, mechanisms, and future prospects

Abstract

The global consumption of additive potent organic toxicants (POTs) in ergogenic beverages, particularly energy drinks (EDs), has raised significant health and environmental concerns due to their increasing production, excessive intake beyond recommended levels, and discharge into aquatic ecosystems. These additive POTs, which include sweeteners, caffeine, taurine, preservatives, flavorings, and synthetic colorants among others, are recognized as emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) and are frequently detected in various water bodies, thus posing risks to human health and ecological systems. Addressing these challenges requires the development of innovative and effective remediation strategies, with new adsorption materials and methods emerging as a promising approach owing to its cost-effectiveness, efficiency, environmental compatibility, and simplicity. Despite considerable research on the adsorptive removal of beverage additive POTs from aqueous media, critical reviews focusing specifically on the application of different adsorbent materials remain limited. Therefore, this article aims to critically analyze recent studies primarily from the past decade on the batch adsorption-based removal of additive POTs from beverages and contaminated waters using diverse adsorbents. The review provides a critical examines the application of various adsorbent materials for beverage additive POT removal, the kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic studies, as well as the adsorption mechanisms, such as physisorption and chemisorption. It also discusses key factors influencing adsorption, alongside an assessment of the toxicological implications for human health. Finally, the review highlights current challenges and future prospects in the additive POT remediation, emphasizing the need for sustainable, innovative adsorption technologies to ensure safer beverages and improved water quality, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focused on responsible consumption, food security, health, and clean water.