The Hindu Business Line : Cashew apple a potential source for bio-fuel

Cashew apple, a product which is abundantly available in the country every year and much of it is wasted, could be an excellent source of bio-fuel that could be effectively used for the production of ethanol.

Cashew, one of the important commercial crops in the country, is grown in 8.37 lakh hectares producing 5.73 lakh tonnes of raw nuts, spread over Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Karnataka and Kerala. The cashew nut to apple ratio generally varies from 1:6 to 1:10 and taking a modest ratio of 1:7, the cashew plantations in the country could produce 40.11 lakh tonnes of cashew apple, Dr M. Abdul Salam, Professor and Chairman, Department of Agronomy, Kerala Agriculture University (KAU), Vellayani, told Business Line.

Dr Salam who has done extensive research on cashew, both in developing high yielding varieties and various products from cashew apple, said that from 40.11 lakh tonnes of cashew apple, there was a potential to produce 3.21 lakh tonnes of ethanol. “It may be possible to utilise at least 50 per cent of cashew apple generated in the country which can yield about 1.60 lakh tonnes of ethanol”, he said. Realising the great significance of cashew apple in the production of bio-fuel, the governments of cashew growing States need to initiate appropriate action to utilise this resource in a big way, as they have larger area under cashew.

The Union Government, he said, has already approved 10-20 per cent mix of ethanol with petrol in the automobiles for use as gasohol. Efforts are being made in the country in the large-scale production of bio-fuels from various organic sources such as sorghum, wheat, maize, sugarcane etc.

Ethanol production

“But attempts so far are either meagre or rather none to utilise the cashew apple for ethanol production, although technology is very much available for the same”, he said. Cashew apple, he said, yields 8-10 per cent of ethanol and every kg of raw nut generates apple equivalent to produce 500-600 ml of ethanol of about 70 per cent purity. This indicates that the huge potential of generating ethanol from cashew apple. As such, the use of cashew apple for ethanol production assumes greater significance to partially meet the energy crisis of the country, he said.

According to Dr Salam, impediments if any exist, in the form of excise rules, they may be eliminated so as to utilise the hither to wasted organic resource, for the production of bio-energy usable in automobiles.

India with 17 per cent of the world population and just 0.8 per cent of known oil and natural gas resources is facing serious energy challenges. “Hence, effective utilisation of cashew apple can help us in a big way to achieve energy security as envisaged by the government”, he added.

More Stories on : Cashew | Non-conventional Energy

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
AP Govt urged to pay incentive for paddy

Sattur Chamber welcomes subsidy for jatropha cultivation

Coonoor tea prices rise on low offer

Improved demand at Kolkata tea sale

Gold could test support, increase

Cotton may consolidate, rise

Lake placid

Cashew apple a potential source for bio-fuel

Jeera futures demand rising

High volatility in pepper futures market

Strategic buying of gold likely at every dip

Guarseed may gain on increasing demand

In nobel company