A Novel Cardanol-Based Monoglyceride Using Cashew Nut Shell Liquid

Abstract

Phenol is a widely used non-renewable petrochemical resource in many organic syntheses; hence, sourcing phenolic derivatives from renewable resources is an important concern. In this study, a novel Monoglyceride (MG) was synthesized using "cardanol" as a starting material-an eco-friendly and natural phenolic derivative. Cardanol was obtained by the decarboxylation of anacardic acid present in raw Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL). It was then reacted with Maleic Anhydride (MA) to synthesize a novel Mono-Phenyl Maleate (MPM) derivative with a purity of 65.5%. This product underwent direct esterification with glycerol to yield the novel MG. Based on the periodic oxidation method, the monoglyceride content was determined to be 70.1%. It exhibited high thermal stability up to 250 °C. Being a thermally stable di-functional compound, this MG is a potential novel monomer for the synthesis of alkyd resins with enhanced properties.