摘要: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.