Kattha Plant from Kaju Chhilka (Cashew Peel) — Turnkey Manufacturer

Kattha from Kaju Chhilka (Cashew Peel) & Khair Wood

SS Fabrication designs and supplies complete Kattha and catechin extraction plants from both kaju chhilka (cashew peel / cashew testa) and traditional Khair wood.

Kaju chhilka contains 12–15% catechin + epicatechin by dry weight — the same bio-actives that give premium Khair wood Kattha its value in paan, Ayurveda, nutraceutical and cosmetic applications. Total polyphenols in kaju chhilka reach ~32% by dry weight.

Instead of discarding kaju chhilka as a low-value by-product, our solvent-extraction plants convert it into high-purity Kattha using SS Fabrication's proprietary continuous falling-film evaporator (FFE) system — operating at 45–55°C under vacuum for low steam consumption, 82–90% solvent recovery, and no catechin degradation.

Why Kaju Chhilka Kattha Is a Stronger Business Case Than Khair Wood

No forest permit: kaju chhilka is generated entirely inside cashew processing factories as waste — no regulatory, seasonal or supply chain risk.
Year-round availability in all major cashew belts — Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and others.
Lower raw-material cost: kaju chhilka ₹50–60/kg vs ₹80–150/kg for Khair heartwood chips (2025–26 market rates).
Higher purity potential: solvent extraction with fractional purification achieves 50–70%+ catechin — far above the 30–40% ceiling of conventional Khair water-boiling, opening pharma, nutraceutical and cosmetic markets.
Better product colour: pale amber to near-white Kattha with SS Fabrication's low-temperature FFE — preferred in premium markets and necessary for pharma/cosmetic buyers.

Typical Yield — Kaju Chhilka to Kattha

With proper grinding, defatting and solvent extraction, 100 kg of well-prepared kaju chhilka yields approximately 8–10 kg of dry Kattha with SS Fabrication's FFE process. Conventional batch-still plants typically achieve only 6–8 kg — a 25–40% yield penalty from thermal catechin degradation at 78°C+.

SS Fabrication — Kaju Chhilka Kattha Plant

SS Fabrication's kaju chhilka (cashew peel) Kattha extraction plant — Sonipat, Haryana.

Process Engineering · SS Fabrication

Kaju Chhilka → Kattha: Complete Process Flow

Industry-standard 8-step extraction from raw kaju chhilka (cashew peel / kaju ka chilka) to finished dry Kattha using SS Fabrication's proprietary FFE machinery. Katha plant machinery · Kaju chhilka plant process · Catechin extraction flow

Process Steps

80kg

Kattha / tonne

50–70%

Catechin purity

45°C

FFE temperature

IS4359

Compliant

Testa Preparation & Grinding

Feed Preparation

EquipmentHammer mill / pulveriser (500–2,000 kg/hr)

InputRaw kaju chhilka — 1,000 kg/batch

Target particle size<1 mm powder for maximum solvent contact

Pre-checkMoisture <12%, visual inspection for contamination

→ Output: Fine kaju chhilka powder, ready for defatting

Oil / Lipid Defatting

SS Fabrication Exclusive

EquipmentSingle-skid defatting unit — inline with extraction

SolventHexane or isopropanol (IPA) pre-wash

Oil removal80–95% co-extractable oils removed

Why it mattersWithout defatting: sticky product, rancid off-odour within 3–6 months, fails pharma peroxide & FFA tests

→ Output: Defatted kaju chhilka powder, pharma-grade shelf life. Most competing katha plant machinery omits this step entirely.

3-Stage Counter-Current Solvent Extraction

Extraction

EquipmentSS316 jacketed extractors (2,000–20,000 L) with agitators

SolventEthanol or ethyl acetate

Method3-stage counter-current extraction (CCE) for maximum catechin recovery

DischargeAutomated spent testa discharge — no manual unloading

→ Output: Catechin-rich solvent miscella (catechin + tannins + polyphenols dissolved) · Spent testa cake

Solid–Liquid Separation

Separation

EquipmentPlate-and-frame filter press or centrifuge

PurposeSeparate spent testa solids from clarified miscella

Testa disposalSpent cake sent to composting or boiler fuel

Miscella qualityClarified, solids-free — ready for FFE evaporation

→ Output: Clarified catechin-rich miscella → to FFE · Spent testa cake → disposal

Continuous FFE Solvent Recovery

Proprietary · Key Differentiator

EquipmentSS316 Falling Film Evaporator (FFE) — continuous operation

Temperature45–55°C under vacuum −0.08 MPa

vs ConventionalBatch still runs at 78°C+ → catechin browns & degrades

Solvent recovery82–90% per pass · solvent recycled back to extraction

Steam efficiency1 kg steam evaporates 2–3 kg solvent (vs 0.8–1.0 kg in batch)

Catechin yield88–95% extraction efficiency (vs 65–75% batch still)

→ Output: Concentrated aqueous catechin extract — pale amber colour preserved · Recovered solvent → recycled This single step is why SS Fabrication achieves 80 kg/tonne vs 60 kg with conventional katha plant machinery.

Crystallisation

Purification

EquipmentJacketed crystallisation tanks with cooling coils

ProcessConcentrated extract cooled slowly — catechin crystallises out of tannin-rich mother liquor (Cutch)

Temperature controlControlled cooling profile to maximise crystal size and purity

By-productTannin-rich Cutch liquor — separate high-value product stream

→ Output: Raw Kattha crystal slurry · Cutch (catechu-tannin) liquor as secondary product

Filter Press & Cold-Water Washing

Washing & Purification

EquipmentPlate-and-frame filter press

WashingMultiple cold-water wash cycles — each wash improves whiteness and removes residual tannins

Purity impactProgressive washing raises catechin % and paste value

Mother liquorRecycled or processed for Cutch extraction

→ Output: Washed Kattha cake (~50% moisture) — pale amber colour, high purity, low tannin contamination

Vacuum Drying & Finishing

Final Product

EquipmentVacuum tray dryer + ambient curing racks

Drying conditionsVacuum drying at 40–50°C to <5% final moisture

FinishingBlock or tablet moulding, slab formation, or granulation for powder grade

QCIS 4359 catechin test, moisture, colour, FFA and peroxide value

→ Final product: Dry Kattha blocks / granules / powder · IS 4359:1967 compliant

80 kg

Kattha output / tonne kaju chhilka

50–70%

Catechin purity

82–90%

Solvent recovery

SS Fabrication Kaju Chhilka Plant — IS 4359 Compliant Output

Pale amber to near-white Kattha, fully defatted, shelf-stable. Suitable for paan, Ayurveda, nutraceutical, pharma and cosmetic markets. See full FFE vs batch still comparison →

Figure: Complete 8-step kaju chhilka (cashew peel / cashew testa / kaju ka chilka) to Kattha manufacturing process flow — SS Fabrication proprietary katha plant machinery, Sonipat, Haryana, India. Process includes oil/lipid defatting (Step 2) and continuous falling film evaporator (FFE) solvent recovery at 45–55°C (Step 5) — the two steps that distinguish high-yield katha plant machinery from conventional batch-still systems. Yield: 80 kg dry Kattha per 1,000 kg kaju chhilka input. IS 4359:1967 catechin standard compliant. Keywords: kaju chhilka kattha process flow, katha plant machinery diagram, cashew peel catechin extraction steps, kaju chilka plant process, high yield katha plant, FFE catechin extraction, kaju ka chilka to kattha.

Kattha production from kaju chhilka — SS Fabrication plant walkthrough.

Why SS Fabrication's FFE Beats Conventional Batch Distillation Stills

Most competing kaju chhilka Kattha plant suppliers use a batch distillation still for solvent recovery. This operates at 78°C+ — high enough to degrade catechin, produce dark brown product and cap purity at 30–40%. SS Fabrication uses a continuous falling film evaporator (FFE) at 45–55°C under vacuum. The difference in outcomes is significant:

Parameter	Conventional Batch Still (most competitors)	SS Fabrication FFE
Operating temperature	78°C+ atmospheric	45–55°C under vacuum
Operation mode	Batch — fill / heat / distil / empty	Continuous — no cycle downtime
Catechin preservation	Poor — browning & degradation	Excellent — sub-55°C protects catechin
Product colour	Dark brown (Maillard browning)	Pale amber to near-white
Steam consumption	1 kg steam / 0.8–1.0 kg solvent	1 kg steam / 2–3 kg solvent
Solvent recovery	70–80%	82–90% per pass
IS 4359 catechin achievable	30–40% with difficulty	50–70%+ readily
Yield per 100 kg kaju chhilka	6–8 kg dry Kattha	8–10 kg dry Kattha

Each litre of solvent does 3× the work. Catechin extraction yield improves from 65–75% (batch still) to 88–95% (FFE). Solvent consumption per kg catechin drops ~50%. Full technical comparison →

SS Fabrication's continuous falling film evaporator (FFE) — 45–55°C vacuum solvent recovery for zero catechin degradation.

Why Defatting Matters — and Why Most Plants Skip It

Kaju chhilka contains 3–8% co-extractable oils alongside its catechin content. Without an inline defatting step, these oils cause serious product failures: sticky, clumping Kattha with poor shelf life, rancid off-odour within 3–6 months, and automatic rejection by pharma and nutraceutical buyers on peroxide value and free fatty acid tests.

SS Fabrication integrates a single-skid defatting unit (hexane or isopropanol pre-wash) inline with the extraction process — removing 80–95% of co-extractable oils before they reach the extractor. This is not optional for pharma, nutraceutical or cosmetic-grade Kattha. Most competing plant designs omit this step entirely.

Key Equipment in a Kaju Chhilka Kattha Plant

Pulveriser / hammer mill for kaju chhilka grinding (500–2,000 kg/hr).
SS316 jacketed solvent extractors (2,000–20,000 L) with agitators.
Miscella tanks, membrane filters and plate-and-frame filter presses.
SS316 falling film evaporator or WVR unit for solvent duty, plus condensers, receivers and vacuum system.
Crystallisation tanks with cooling coils, vacuum tray dryer and optional spray dryer for high-grade catechin powder.
Explosion-proof electrical panels, solvent storage, chiller and scrubber systems — meeting ATEX / PESO safety requirements.

Khair Wood Kattha & Cutch Plants

For clients who prefer conventional Khair wood, SS Fabrication also delivers complete Kattha + Cutch plants from 5 TPD to 25+ TPD of Khair heartwood chips — including debarking, chipping, water-boiling extraction, falling-film or WVR evaporation, Kattha crystallisation and Cutch block / powder production.

A typical Khair plant yield is 5 kg Kattha and 14 kg Cutch per 100 kg of good-quality heartwood chips, with catechin content meeting IS 4359:1967 specifications for commercial Kattha.

Turnkey Delivery — What You Receive

Feasibility study: raw material, capacity, target grade and market review.
Process design and P&IDs tailored to your testa source and target catechin grade.
Complete in-house equipment fabrication at Sonipat with full QC.
Civil and structural layout, foundation and utility connection drawings.
ATEX / PESO compliant electrical and instrumentation for solvent plants.
Erection, commissioning, operator training and SOP documentation.
After-sales support, spare parts and yield-improvement consultancy.

Download the Detailed Technical Brochure

For a complete 30+ page technical guide covering Khair, Cashew Testa and Gambier Kattha plants — including flow diagrams, equipment sizing ranges and investment notes — download our brochure.

Download Kattha Plant Brochure ↓