Valorization of cashew nut processing residues for industrial applications

Considering global scenario of international market for cashew nut, its industrial processing has great economic consideration. Availability of all essential amino acids in cashew nuts rewards it as nutrition dense crop, providing cashew nuts in the form of dry fruits. Industrial processing of cashew nut generates various by-products/residues, which also cause environmental concerns. These include cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), testa, cashew apple, and cashew apple bagasse. These by-products are industrially significant as they can be processed to form several bioactive compounds, polymers and other products, thus making the process and products economic and environmental friendly and sustainable. Cashew apple bagasse is rich in organic nature and could be a potent source of lignocellulosic material for the production of bioethanol and other microbial products through biological processes. CNSL is enriched with numerous phenolic compounds and has potential benefits for usage in preparation of coatings and laminates. Therefore, proper management of cashew crop residues could not only lead to high revenue generation, but it also offers environmental sustainability.