Extraction of polyphenols from cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale) shells using rotocel extractor

Abstract

Cashew nut shell liquid which is rich in polyphenols like cardanol, anacardic acid and cardol was extracted from dried and crushed cashew nut shells using a rotocel extractor. The extractor was fabricated using mild steel and a copper coil was mounted inside. Heating of the solvent was done by passing hot water into the copper coil to analyze the effect of temperature on the extraction process. The solvents used in the extraction process were n-hexane and methanol. The extract was collected and the presence of polyphenols in the extract was identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) test. The process parameters are identified to be solvent temperature, feed to solvent ratio and solvent rate. And then further studies on the medicinal values of the polyphenols mainly anacardic acid and cardanol in treatment of cancer and other pathophysiological disorders were carried out.