Cashew husk are often discarded during cashew processing. They not only keep cashews fresh but also in many other applications. So what does cashew husk do? Join BB Agri to find out in detail in the following article!

What is cashew husk?

The cashew husk is the outer shell of cashew nuts. Completely separating the kernel, the silk shell has a reddish tint and is widely used in the processing industry. The multi-compound substance contained in silk shells can be extracted to give excellent color to leather goods and used in the tanning industry.

In addition, cashew husk also have applications in dyeing, animal feed, poultry feed and many other fields. This is a useful by-product of the cashew nut processing industry in Vietnam.

The process of separating cashew husk

The cashew husk separation process is an important step in the production of quality cashew nuts. After the cashew splitting process has been carried out to separate the hard shell, followed by the separation of the silk shell from the cashew kernel. To do this, cashew kernels together with silk crusts are taken to dry at high temperatures. This drying process not only ripens the cashew kernel but also facilitates the husk (silk shell) to slightly separate from the cashew kernel.

Next, the cashew kernels are transferred to the silk peeling stage. The worker will proceed to peel the silk shell from the cashew nut with a knife afterwards. As a result, a husk is obtained called cashew silk shell, the rest of which is clean and tasty cashews. This process ensures the quality and palatability of the final product, and is an important part of the cashew nut industry.

What does cashew nut silk shell do?

Following are the applications of cashew nut silk shell:

Extract as a tanning agent

Cashew husk are high in tannins, a type of natural polyphenol compound. This has piqued the interest of the tanning industry. Tannins have the ability to bind to collagen proteins in the skin, making it less absorbent, resisting bacteria and mold, and helping to soften the skin. The use of tannin extracted from cashew nut silk shells has created important additional value for Vietnam’s cashew nut production and processing industry.

Application in fertilizer industry

Cashew nut silk shells are an extremely good natural source of nutrients for plants. When spread into the ground, silk husks produce humus containing many nutrients needed for crop development, providing the basis for the strong development of agriculture.

Feed for cattle

Cashew silk shells have rich essential oils and nutrients, which are a favorite of many cattle such as horses, goats, and cows. With not too expensive price, cashew silk shells have become a good choice for cattle farmers, although currently in Vietnam, animal feed from cashew nut silk shells is still not popular.

Natural dye

Cashew husk are an excellent source of raw materials for natural coloring for many industries, including dyes and aluminum paint. Colorants from cashew husk have strong coloring ability, low cost and easy search. India, for example, has many factories producing and distributing cashew nut silk shells for the pigment industry.

Combustion materials

Cashew husk contain significant amounts of essential oils, making them powerful burning materials. The flammability of cashew nut silk shells is no less competitive than that of petroleum, and its low cost makes it an attractive choice in the competition for the position of combustion materials.

Why are cashew husk processed for animal feed?

Cashew husk are processed into animal feed mainly because it has nutritional value and can be a cheap and readily available feed source for livestock animals. Here are some reasons why cashew silk shells can be used in animal feed:

Nutrition: Cashew husk contain a large amount of nutrients, including protein, fiber, minerals like calcium and magnesium, as well as vitamins like vitamin K and vitamin B-complex. These are important components of the diet of livestock animals to maintain health and development.

Cheap food: Cashew husk usually have lower economic value than other food sources such as grains or other animal feed. This makes it an attractive option for livestock and poultry farmers, especially as prices of major feed sources soar.

Easy processing: Cashew husk can be easily processed to form flour or cake, which can be conveniently mixed into cattle feed.

Industrial Waste Reduction: Using cashew husk in animal feed can also help reduce industrial emissions, because it is a way of leveraging byproducts from the cashew nut manufacturing industry, helping to avoid waste.

Conclude

Hopefully, the information BB Agri shared above helps you know what cashew silk shells do as well as the application of cashew husk in different fields. At the same time, making use of cashew husk  also contributes to environmental protection, reducing industrial waste from cashew nut production!

You need to buy cashew nut silk shell powder in bulk, please contact BB Agri via hotline 076 3218 247 for advice and fastest quotation.