RESEARCH ON THE FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF SILKWORM PUPAE OIL OBTAINED BY MICROWAVE-ASSISTED EXTRACTION

This study used from silkworm pupae, which are waste products from local silk factories. Scientific literature claim that silkworm pupae oil is safe to consume, and that the oil is rich in 60–70% unsaturated fatty acids, including oleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. During the study, oil was extracted from silkworm pupaes using microwave-assisted extraction with two different organic solvents, and the resulting samples were analysed by gas chromatography. First, the samples were dried, then ground, and finally extracted using microwave-assisted extraction. According to the results obtained, the oil yield during oil extraction in 96% ethyl alcohol for 30 minutes was 19.8% at a microwave power of 30%. The highest oil yield (26.4%) was achieved using grade A extraction gasoline in 20 minutes at 30% microwave power. The oil samples were then analysed using GC analysis. According to the results, mulberry silkworm pupae oil contains the following unsaturated fatty acids: C18:1 (31.465%) and C18:2 (32.374%).