Sustainable uses of cashew tree rejects: cashew apple bagasse and cashew gum

Abstract

Anacardium occidentale, more commonly known as cashew tree, is a tropical tree native from South America. The industrial use of the cashew is basically aimed at the processing of the nut and, minor extent, the use of the peduncle, generating high losses due to the large quantity of cashew apple bagasse that are discarded. Another cashew’s tree reject is the exudate, a yellowish-colored resin obtained by natural exudation or by incisions made on the stem of the cashew, which serves as raw material for the cashew gum production. In this context, the present work carries out a technological prospection in databases of patents and scientific articles mapping the cashew’s rejects applications, such as cashew apple bagasse and cashew gum as a byproduct. After the analysis of patents and scientific articles, it was possible to perceive that cashew apple bagasse presents a good potential, as an abundant and low-cost source of bioactive compounds, being an excellent raw material for functional food composition. In particular, many studies involving the cashew gum are in the area of medicine. Thus, the present study mapped the potentiality of the cashew rejects that can add environmental and social dimensions that are often overlooked in the context of small-scale agricultural production.