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The energy and mass flow of the steam cooking operation of three readily defined small-scale cashew processing industries was studied to estimate the availability of cashew nut shell. The proximate analysis of cashew shell waste was carried out using ASTMD 73–75 method. The calorific value of the cashew shell was carried out using bomb calorimeter (ASTME 711). The thermogravimetric analysis of the cashew shell was carried out using TG-FTIR with 10∘C/minute heating rate. The study revealed that, the small-scale cashew processing industries followed steam-cooking process with average energy consumption accounted to be 2969.7 MJ per 1000 kg of raw cashew seed. The cashew shell waste generated in small-scale cashew processing industries was found to be 67.5% of total weight of cashew seed, which can be utilized as fuel for thermal energy supply. The average higher calorific value of the cashew nut shell was found to be 4890 kcal/kg. The thermogravimetric analysis revealed that 85% weight of cashew nut shell has been degraded at 500∘C and in 13 minutes. The availability and fuel analysis of the cashew shell as a fuel revealed its suitability as a supplementary fuel for thermal application through pyrolysis in the industry.

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A study was conducted for the estimation of energy consumption in eight readily defined unit operations of small-scale cashew nut processing in India. The nine industries were stratified into 60, 30 and 15 kg/batch capacity of steam cooker. Series of equations were developed to easily compute requirements of solar, electricity, fuel and manual energy for each of the unit operations. The results show that the total energy consumption per 1000 kg of raw cashew nuts in three categories of industries was 5321.43, 5540.14 and 6061.34 MJ, respectively, when the steaming operation was carried out by using electricity. The three identified energy-intensive operations in cashew nut processing were cashew nut drying, cashew nut steaming and drying of cashew kernels, altogether accounting for over 90% of the total energy consumption. The developed equations are useful tools for carrying out budgeting, forecasting energy requirements and planning plant expansion.

Problem statement: India is largest producer, processor, exporter and second largest consumer of cashew in the world with annual production of 6,20,000 MT. India processed about 1.18 million MT of raw cashew seeds through 3650 cashew processing industries scattered in many states of country. The cashew industries employed different unit operations/ methodologies for processing depend on variety of raw material, location, technological mechanization and availability of secured energy supply. Approach: There are two commonly followed methods of cashew nut processing, viz., roasting process and steam (roasting) process. The sources of different environmental pollutant discharged in to the atmosphere during the cashew nut processing have been revealed in the article. Results: The environmental standards for air pollution emission for roasting process, steam cooking process and broma oven have been presented. The solid waste disposal practice and new and relocation sitting criteria have been discussed for cashew processing industries. Conclusion: The cashew nut processing by cooking (steam roasting) process, which is relatively less pollution intensive and an alternative process to roasting process may be considered to reduce the environmental discharge load.