Exploring the potential of lipids from black soldier fly: New paradigm for biodiesel production (I)

Black soldier fly, a high lipids containing insect, can be used as a new and viable biomass feed-stock, using organic matters (animal manure, restaurant waste, and fermentation straw) and increasing the overall biodiesel yield. This study proposed microwave extraction method to extract lipid from the insect for biodiesel production. The factors influencing the extraction yield % (w/w) were discussed in detail. Response surface methodology was used to investigate the effect of extraction conditions on the lipid extraction yield. The results obtained by statistical analysis showed that the quadratic model fits in the cases. Gas chromatography mass spectra of the obtained insect lipid revealed 22.54% oleic, 12.67% linoleic, and 6.45% palmitoleic acid in its composition. These compositional data were qualitatively confirmed with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermal gravimetric (TG) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analyses of extracted lipid sample. The comparison of the insect fatty acids profile from the energy insect black soldier fly larvae with common biodiesel feed-stocks showed suitability of the insect for production of biodiesel.