TITLE:
Biodiesel Production from Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Larvae Oil: Physichochemical Properties and Acid Composition of Oil as Affected by Oil Extraction Protocol
AUTHORS:
Arnaude Folepe Azemo Esther, Julius K. Tangka, Nsah-ko Tchoumboue
KEYWORDS:
Biodiesel, Extraction Process, Fatty Acid Composition, Physico-Chemical Properties, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Larvae
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems,
Vol.13 No.4,
October
31,
2023
ABSTRACT: Biodiesel, a renewable energy source made from natural oils and fats, can
be produced using white raffia larvae as a raw material. These larvae have a
high lipid content and a short life cycle, making them suitable for this
purpose. One crucial step in biodiesel
production is oil extraction, and this study aimed to investigate how
the extraction protocol affects the fuel properties of the oil. To study the impact of
solvent type, solvent volume, and
residence time on oil yield, 200 grams of Rhynchophorus
ferrugineus were used in a Soxhlet extractor. The researchers examined the
physicochemical properties and fatty acid composition of the crude grease using
the European biodiesel standard (EN14214) and gas chromatography methods,
respectively. The study found that hexane as a solvent produced the highest oil
yield (64.44%) during a four-hour extraction period with a solvent ratio of 300 ml. Furthermore, the
hexane-extracted oil had the highest iodine number (3.02 g/100 g) and cetane
number (55.69). These values indicate favorable properties for biodiesel
production. The Rhynchophorus ferrugineus larvae oil
proved to be a rich source of monounsaturated fatty acids (76%), which were found to be
significantly affected by the solvent type. Based on
quality assessment, Rhynchophorus
ferrugineus can be suitable for biodiesel production. In summary, under the
given operational conditions, hexane is the most suitable solvent for Rhynchophorus ferrugineus oil
extraction for biodiesel production. Further research in optimizing the
extraction process can contribute to the efficient utilization of renewable
energy sources like white raffia larvae for biodiesel production.