Non-thermal Reduction of Aflatoxin M1 in Milk Using a Continuous Venturi Tube Reactor and Liquid-Phase Plasma: Parametric Optimization and Quality Preservation

Milk is an essential part of the human diet but is highly susceptible to aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) contamination. This heat-stable toxin cannot be eliminated by conventional thermal pasteurization. This study introduces a continuous non-thermal system combining Venturi tube hydrodynamic cavitation and liquid-phase plasma for AFM1 reduction while preserving milk quality. Using response surface methodology, parameters voltage (10–20 kV), flow rate (2–8 l/min), temperature (30–50 °C), and time (1–5 min) were optimized to maximize degradation. Results showed 52.1 ± 1.1% AFM1 reduction in spiked milk (0.2 μg/kg initial) to 0.096 ± 0.002 μg/kg in under 5 minutes. This meets Iranian standards (<0.1 μg/kg). The quadratic model (R 2 = 0.9811) confirmed high accuracy. Milk quality remained stable with pH 6.69 ± 0.04, fat 3.68 ± 0.06%, color ΔE 0.92, and TBARS 0.20 mg MDA/kg. This energy-efficient technology outperforms batch plasma and thermal methods. The treatment preserves milk quality with minimal oxidative impact, as evidenced by low TBARS levels, and preliminary safety assessments suggest non-toxic degradation products, though further toxicological studies are recommended. This study offers a scalable solution for producing milk with reduced AFM1 while preserving quality. • A continuous Venturi tube hydrodynamic cavitation and liquid-phase plasma system was developed for non-thermal reduction of AFM1 in milk. • Optimized conditions achieved 52.1% AFM1 reduction from 0.2 μg/kg to 0.096 μg/kg in under 5 minutes, meeting Iranian standards. • Key parameters (voltage 19.93 kV, flow rate 7.92 l/min, temperature 37.48 °C, time 4.78 min) were optimized using response surface methodology. • Milk quality remained stable with minimal changes in pH, fat, protein, lactose, color (ΔE 0.92), and TBARS (0.20 mg MDA/kg). • The system offers advantages over thermal pasteurization and batch plasma methods in AFM1 removal efficiency and energy use.