Process for Isolation of Cardanol from Technical Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) Nut Shell Liquid

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Vol. 50; no. 16; pp. 4705 - 4708
• Main Authors: Phani Kumar, P, Paramashivappa, R, Vithayathil, P. J, Subba Rao, P. V, Srinivasa Rao, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 31.07.2002
• Subjects: Acetates; Ammonium Hydroxide; Anacardiaceae - chemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hexanes; Hydroxides; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Methanol; Nuts - chemistry; Phenols - isolation & purification; Resorcinols - isolation & purification; Solvents; Use and upgrading of agricultural and food by-products. Biotechnology; Separation; Extraction process; Method; Ammonium hydroxide; Phenol; Upgrading; Hexane; Isolation; Husk (fruit); Solvent; By product; Cashew nut; Methanol; NUT PRODUCTS
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf020224w

Commercially available technical cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) nut shell liquid (CNSL) contains mainly cardanol (decarboxylated anacardic acid) and cardol. Cardanol, the monophenolic component of technical CNSL, is widely used as a synthon for the preparation of a number of polymers and agricultural products. This paper describes the separation of cardanol from toxic cardol. Technical CNSL was dissolved in a mixture of methanol and ammonium hydroxide (8:5) and extracted with hexane to obtain cardanol. The resultant methanolic ammonia layer was extracted with a mixture of ethyl acetate and hexane to yield cardol. This is the first industrially feasible process based on solvent extractions for the isolation of cardanol from technical CNSL. Keywords: Anacardic acid; cardol; cardanol; cashew nut shell liquid; Anacardium occidentale L.