cashew shell oil

Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) is a versatile by-product of the cashew industry. The nut has a shell of about 1/ 8 inch thickness inside which is a soft honey comb structure containing a dark reddish brown viscous liquid. It is called cashew nut shell liquid, which is the pericap fluid of the cashew nut. Cashew shell oil is extracted from the shells by a process called solvent extraction, which involves using a solvent to dissolve the oil from the shells. The oil is then refined and used in the manufacture of brake linings, paints, varnishes, and other industrial products. Starch content ranged from 4.6% to 11.2% and the oil content also showed a wide variability from 34.5% to 46.8%. The fat and oil content of cashew nut contributes substantially to its energy content and consists mostly of glycerides of oleic acid (73.8%) and linoleic acids (7.7%) (Ohler, 1979).