Abstract:

In order to better exploit chestnut shells which are residues from food processing, and to promote energy conservation and pollution reduction, the domestic and foreign research progress on the utilization of chestnut shell resource in the last 20 years was reviewed. The informed researches involved employing the shells as biosorbents for heavy metal removal from waste water, as substrates for mushroom cultivation, and as a material for activated carbon preparation, as well as for natural pigment production to color foods and dye textiles. However, these studies were lack of systematicness and some further researches should be conducted in future studies. The information on the toxicology and metabolism of the chestnut shell pigments should be given to evaluate their safety. The sorption capacities towards heavy metals of chestnut shell were low, and chemical modifications were needed to improve their sorption performance. The residue after pigment extraction could be further used as a raw material for the activated carbon preparation in order to achieve recycling.