An overview of chemical, physical and biological methods for zearalenone elimination: Recent advances and future prospective

Mycotoxins have aroused great concern worldwide over the past few years. Zearalenone (ZEN) is one of the most widespread mycotoxins that primarily contaminates crops, including corn, wheat, and barley. ZEN is structurally similar to estrogen and poses a great threat to poultry growth and human health. The degradation of ZEN is significant in both the scientific and practical fields. Adsorption is still the most widely applied physical methods for ZEN removal. Chemical methods involving oxidation, reduction, and neutralization not only study the content change of ZEN but also the product toxicity. Recently, the biological degradation of ZEN has been intensively studied and found to be superior to physical and chemical solutions. Lactonase, peroxidase, and laccase are efficient enzymes in the biological degradation of ZEN. In a summary, the advantage and disadvantage of three methods were comprehensively discussed and compared in detail.

Automated summary

Mycotoxins, especially Zearalenone (ZEN), have become a global concern in recent years due to their widespread contamination in crops such as corn, wheat, and barley. ZEN, structurally similar to estrogen, poses a significant threat to both poultry growth and human health. While adsorption is the most commonly used physical method for ZEN removal, the biological degradation of ZEN, utilizing enzymes such as lactonase, peroxidase, and laccase, has shown superior potential compared to physical and chemical solutions. This comprehensive discussion and comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of these methods sheds light on the effective management of ZEN contamination.