Commercial potentials of cashew shell liquid cited

The shell liquid of local cashew nuts have good potentials as materials in the manufacture of industrial products.

For instance, its resin can remove poisonous metals from wastewater (also called "cation exchange resin"). The varnish derived from it performs as well as the commercial type and its wood glue conforms with international standards.

Researcher Mildred M. Fidel of the Los Baños-based Department of Science and Technology-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) reported:

"The resin we produced was able to remove lead ions from a prepared solution of toxic metals. The varnish was as durable and glossy as commercial nitrocellulose lacquers while the wood adhesive was also as strong as commercial ones."

DOST-FPRDI, headed by Director Florence Soriano, has been studying ways on how to make the most out of the cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL).

In other countries, particularly India and Brazil, CNSL is widely used in producing many industrial products, among them brake lining of motor vehicles, industrial belts, and clutches; heat-and water-proof paints, corrosion-resistant stove varnish, and special quality lacquers.

In the FPRDI study, the researchers – Fidel, Rebecca Lapuz, Irma Palanginan, Mariluz Dionglay, Jennifer Tamayo and Ryan Anniver Lapuz – found that the properties of local CNSL meet international standards.

"Given strong support from government, a CNSL industry can thrive in the Philippines," Fidel asserted, as quoted as FPRDI’s Rizalina Araral. "After all, we produce 120 million kilos of cashew nuts and 20 million kilos of CNSL every year. These can be tapped to produce local substitutes that will lessen our dependence on imported cation exchange resins, varnishes, and wood glues." – RAF