FAT PRODUCTION FROM BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE FED ON FOOD WASTE FOR BIOENERGY PURPOSES

Abstract

Currently, the environment has become a constant concern, especially regarding sustainability and the excessive waste of food. In this context, the importance of discussing solutions that reduce waste sustainably and minimize environmental impacts becomes evident. Thus, the present study aims to use living organisms, such as the Hermetia illucens larva, known as the black soldier fly (BSF), which has bioconversion capacity and produces a fat-rich biomass when fed with food waste. For this purpose, bait production was necessary to initiate larval cultivation. The larvae were later collected in the larval stage, when they present a higher fat content in their biomass, and were euthanized in hot water and dehydrated in an oven. Subsequently, they were ground and mixed with acetone, the extraction solvent used in the process, and then placed in a water bath at approximately 50 °C to promote solvent evaporation and obtain only the extracted fat. In summary, through the lipid extraction process of BSF larvae, it was possible to obtain 51.647 g of fat from 907.44 g of dehydrated larvae, resulting in a yield of 5.7%.