REMOVAL OF HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION FROM PEANUT SKIN EXTRACTS BY WASTE BIOMASS ADSORPTION

摘要

Peanut skins are a processing waste product with potential as a low-cost source ofrnpolyphenols for nutraceutical or functional food ingredient use. Aqueous extractionsrnof peanut skins and subsequent concentration of these extracts can result inrnnormally innocuous levels of heavy metals present to be increased to concentrationsrnof human health concern. Adsorption utilizing waste biomasses is a promisingrnmethod of removing these contaminants from extracts. Peanut hulls andrnchitosan cross-linked beads were evaluated as possible adsorbents. The Langmuirrnadsorption model determined that peanut hulls were the more effective material.rnPeanut hulls removed 88.6 ± 1.9% of the cadmium present. Apparent removal ofrnarsenic (21.7 ± 9.5%) showed no correlation to adsorbent dosage. Successfulrnremoval of cadmium without reduction of the phenolic content of the extractsrnshowed that this strategy is effective for heavy metal remediation of peanut skinrnextracts, making them a viable source of antioxidants in food applications.