Feasibility Study on Lipid Extraction from Hermetia Illucens Larvae (black Soldier Fly) for Potential Biodiesel Production

The research evaluates the potential of producing biodiesel using Hermetia Illucens (black soldier fly) as a strategy for waste valorization at the Center for Research in Horticulture and native Plants (CIHPNA) of the UPAEP. The evaluated residues include feces from Charolais, Beefmaster and European Swiss cattle and Dorper and East Friesian sheep, with a combined daily generation of 390 kg/day. Additionally, tomato crop residues (Solanum lycopersicum) contribute 1.5 kg/day. These substrates were physicochemically characterized (pH, density, moisture, ash, total organic carbon-COT, Phosphorus-P, total Nitrogen-N and lignin content). The experimental design included three dependent variables: feeding rate (mg larva-1 day-1), larval density (larvae/m2), and type of larval diet. Larvae were fed at 444.4 and 666.6 mg larva-1 day-1, using 150 and 100 larvae, across five mixtures over 15 days. Lipid extraction was carried out using Soxtherm equipment. Prior to extraction, larvae were ground, and 0.5 g of dried biomass was mixed with 150 ml of ethyl ether. Fat content was determined gravimetrically. The highest fat yield (12.9%) was obtained in experiment 9 (460 g of sheep, 370 g of cattle and 170 g of tomato), followed by experiment 7 (400 g of sheep, 460 g of cattle and 140 g of tomato) with 11.3%, and experiments 8 (380g of sheep, 480g of cattle and 140g of tomato) and 10 (410 g of sheep, 430 g of cattle and 160 g of tomato) with 10.9%. All larvae selected for extraction were those fed at rate 666.666 mg larva-1 day-1.