Cashew-nut tree gum (Anacardium occidentale L.) as a new system for liquid-liquid extraction

Abstract

The exudate gum from Anacardium occidentale L. is a branched acidic heteropolysaccharide easily found in Brazil. Given the importance of cashew tree culture to some regions of Brazil, especially the Brazilian north-western, the knowledge of the characteristics of the gum and the results of researches developed to study its biotechnological application have awaken great scientific and industrial interests. In this work, we describe the literature regarding the polysaccharide and its utilization as an alternative to the conventional processes used in the biopurification of economically high-valued compounds.