Removal of Melamine from Adulterated Milk Formula: Advances in Separation Technologies and Challenges

Abstract

This article reviews recent advances in the detection and removal of melamine from adulterated dairy matrices, focusing on industrial-scale separation and real-time monitoring. Traditional unit operations—ultrafiltration/nanofiltration/reverse osmosis, liquid-liquid extraction, and solid-phase extraction—offer continuous processing and tunable selectivity, but suffer from issues such as scaling, matrix effects, and cost/volume tradeoffs. Confirmatory chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) can achieve sub-ppb sensitivity but still requires significant funding and expertise. Emerging materials (metal-organic frameworks [MOFs], molecularly imprinted polymers [MIPs]) can improve molecular recognition capabilities, while optical spectroscopy and smart sensors enable rapid, non-destructive screening to identify batches requiring LC–MS analysis. Beyond technical challenges, inconsistencies in regulatory allowances and the lack of a unified incident database also hinder coordinated risk assessments and cross-border enforcement. Finally, we developed a roadmap linking methodological harmonization, field validation, and digital quality systems to provide auditable, scalable, and cost-effective assurance for liquid foods