Sustainable depuration using environmentally friendly adsorbents as mitigation of microplastics in edible shellfisin in Indonesian coastal waters

Abstract

Marine plastic pollution has led to the accumulation of microplastics in edible mollusks, which may pose a health risk to humans. Depuration offers a sustainable method for reducing microplastic content in seafood. This study investigated the efficiency of microplastic depuration in Meretrix meretrix using natural adsorbents derived from banana peels and corn cobs for 12, 24, and 48 hours. A completely randomized experimental design was applied, and microplastic concentrations were measured and analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Depuration time significantly affected microplastic removal, with the highest efficiency observed after 48 hours. The average microplastic concentration decreased from 4.27 MPs∙ind⁻¹ at 24 hours to 2.53 MPs∙ind⁻¹ at 48 hours. Both adsorbents reduced microplastic content, with corn cobs achieving greater removal than banana peels. These results indicate that agricultural by-products can serve as effective and low-cost depuration agents to reduce microplastic contamination in shellfish, providing a practical approach to improving food safety in aquaculture.