Cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) is a natural annually renewable biomaterial. CNSL is a reddish brown viscous liquid extracted from a soft honeycomb structure inside the cashew nutshell.
It contains approximately 70% of anacardic acid, 18% of cardol, 5% of cardanol and 2% of 2-methyl cardanol with the remainder being made up of other phenols and less polar substances. Anacardic acid and Cardanol are monohydroxy phenols. Cardol and methyl cardanol are dihydroxy phenols.
It can be decarboxylated to obtain a Technical CNSL (Refined) or it can be decarboxylated and distilled to yield high purity Cardanol, a highly desirable alkylphenolic compounds in the coatings and adhesive industries.