Novel Insights on the Sustainable Wet Mode Fractionation of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens) into Lipids, Proteins and Chitin

The black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) is a sustainable ingredient for feed applications, biofuels, composite materials and other biobased products. Processing BSFL to obtain lipid protein fractions with enhanced functional properties as suitable replacement conventional ingredients has gained considerable momentum. In this regard, novel wet mode fractionation (WMF) scheme was explored. Fresh were steam blanched pulped juice press cake. Subsequent treatment of employing homogenization or enzyme incubation further centrifugation resulted in the obtention four different (Lipid—LF; Cream—CF; Aqueous—AF; Solid—SF). Total energy consumption batch (500 g) WMF process 0.321 kWh. Aqueous solid predominant constituents juice. Lauric acid (44.52–49.49%) linoleic (19.12–20.12%) primary fatty acids present lipids. Lipid hydrolysis observed lipids belonging (free > triacylglycerides) cream fractions. fraction proteins (ctrl) displayed superior emulsion stability foam capacity than treatments. Juice cake retained 60% total chitin content rest, 40%, found (ctrl). material distribution principal amino profile elucidated. Overall, versatile proposed study involves simple unit operations from BSFL, which can be explored by researchers industry stakeholders.