Current Advances of Resource Utilization of Herbal Extraction Residues in China

China is the largest consumer and producer of herbal medicine known as traditional Chinese medicine in the world. After the extraction of medicinal plants’ functional ingredients, large amounts of herbal extracted residues would be manufactured. It is estimated that there are more than 1500 medicinal herb companies in China; the annual yield of Chinese herb extracted residues (CHERs) is up to 35 million tons. However, herbal residues are managed through landfills rather than being considered as renewable lignocellulosic biomass. A review concerning the utilization ways and technologies of CHERs is presented, focusing on energy utilization strategies, including direct combustion, thermochemical and biochemical conversion. Other technologies, such as adsorbents products, composting and fertilizers, biorefinery for bioethanol, bio-based chemicals, and re-extraction of other ingredients are also presented. Based on the technology status and potential, the future research and development of herb residues in biomass energy to develop a low-carbon economy for the traditional Chinese medicine industry are proposed. Graphic Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]