KATTHA FROM CASHEW HUSK

Katha  is obtained mostly by crystallization in cold from the water extractives of the heartwood of Acacia catechu Willd., fam. Leguminosae  commonly  known  as  KHAIR  tree,  which  is  widely distributed in India, from the north-west plains to eastwards  in Assam  and throughout the country, particularly in the  deciduous and  drier regions.  The other species namely, A.  chundra  Willd  and  A. catechuoides of KATTHA is carried out both, as a  cottage scale  industry in and around the organized sector.  The  general principle  of  extraction  of the  heartwood  and  of  consequent separation  of KATTHA ( containing most of catechin)  from  cutch (Principally  catechu-tannic acid) is the same in cottage  sector as  well  as large scale units.  In the conventional  process  of KATTHA  manufacture followed by cottage sector of  the  industry, during  separation of the crystalline KATTHA, the soluble  cutchtans,  a valuable by-product are neither effectively removed  nor recovered, except by a few.

KATTHA  is  one of the principal ingredients  used  in  the preparation of PAN from betel leaves, for chewing purposes when, in  combination  with  lime,  it  gives  the  characteristic  red coloration.   In Ayruvedic and Unani systems of medicine,  KATTHA is  used as astringent; cooling and digestive; useful in  relaxed conditions  of  throat,  mouth and gums; and also  in  cough  and diarrhoca.  Externally, it is employed as an astringent and as  a cooling application to ulcers, boils and cruptions of the skin.

A rational specification for KATTHA, fair both to manufacturers as well as consumers, should take into account its main  constituent,  namely,  the  catechin.   Unfortunately,  the specifications  laid  down  so  far in  the  Prevention  of  Food Adulteration  ( PFA ) Rules, 1955, Ministry of Health and  Family Planning, Government of India have overlooked this very important aspect.  This has given rise to anomalous position.  Consequently the Central Committee for Food Standards ( CCFS) requested BIS to under take the task of evolving rational standards for KATTHA. An Indian  Standard specification ( IS: 2962-1964*) formulated as a result of collaborative testing over a number  of years paved the foundation  for testing.  It is hope that specification  will  be adopted  shortly by the CCFS for the purposes of the  PFA  Rules, 1955.

This specification has been formulated on the basis of collaborative  tests carried out on a large number of samples of KATTHA,  obtained from the cottage sector as well as large  scale manufacturers, in the laboratories of Central Food  Technological Research  Institute (CFTRI), Mysore; Italab Private Ltd.  Bombay; The public Analyst, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow; Central Drugs Laboratory, Calcutta; and the Indian Standards Institution. The  co-operation received from them is gratefully  acknowledged. The Limits for poisonous metals are the same as specified in  the PFA Rules, 1955, Ministry of Health & Family Planning  Government of India.

INTRODUCTION
PROPERTIES
SPECIFICATION OF CASHEW HUSK
B.I.S. SPECIFICATION
SAMPLING
USES
OVERVIEW OF CASHEW HUSK IN VIETNAM
MARKET SURVEY
IMPORT DATA OF KATHA
EXPORT DATA OF KATHA
IMPORT DATA OF CASHEW HUSK
MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF KATHA FROM CASHEW HUSK
PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM
PRINCIPLES OF PLANT LAYOUT
PLANT LOCATION FACTORS
EXPLANATION OF TERMS USED IN THE PROJECT REPORT
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULES
SUPPLIERS OF RAW MATERIALS
SUPPLIERS OF PLANT AND MACHINERY
PLANT LAYOUT

APPENDIX – A :

1.      COST OF PLANT ECONOMICS
2.      LAND & BUILDING
3.      PLANT AND MACHINERY
4.      FIXED CAPITAL INVESTMENT
5.      RAW MATERIAL
6.      SALARY AND WAGES
7.      UTILITIES AND OVERHEADS
8.      TOTAL WORKING CAPITAL
9.      COST OF PRODUCTION
10.      PROFITABILITY ANALYSIS
11.      BREAK EVEN POINT
12.      RESOURCES OF FINANCE
13.      INTEREST CHART
14.      DEPRECIATION CHART
15.      CASH FLOW STATEMENT
16.      PROJECTED BALANCE SHEET