Ricinus communis L. High-value waste and possible potential uses in the agroindustry

Ricinus communis L., castor bean or castor oil plant, is a plant that in Mexico can be found from north to south, in arid and humid climates, due to it is an easy-dispersion crop generated by staggered germination. The seed is the main product used for the extraction of high-quality oil. This has multiple applications (hydraulic and brake fluids, paints, dyes, varnishes, inks, coldresistant plastics, waxes, nylon and fiber optics, pharmaceuticals, and perfumes), that make it a versatile product. However, during the obtaining process, 1.2 tons of waste cake are generated for each ton of extracted oil (approximately 50% of the weight of the seed), with a high content of protein and fiber. These attributes make the castor bean waste cake an excellent (or possible) source for the bioplastics production used in the food industry. Nevertheless, despite its potential availability, this by-product contains ricin, a protein toxin. Therefore, it is important to analyze the existing research on detoxification, as well as its potential use in the food industry.