A Novel Advanced Technique for Dual Production of Black Soldier Fly Oil and Protein

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable alternative feed ingredients has encouraged the utilization of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) as a promising source of both protein and oil. In this study, larvae were reared for 14 days on a palm kernel meal–pollard substrate (1:3), then microwave-dried at 120 °C for 5 minutes and processed into larval flour. Two extraction techniques—Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) and Hot Press Extraction—were compared using three replications to evaluate their effects on oil yield, proximate composition, fatty acid profile (GC–FID), and amino acid composition (qualitative HPLC). Independent t-tests were used to assess statistical differences. The results showed that UAE produced a significantly higher oil yield compared with the hot press extraction method. The defatted meal obtained from UAE also contained significantly higher ash, protein, and crude fiber levels, whereas the hot press method resulted in higher residual lipid content. No significant differences were observed in the fatty acid profiles between the two extraction methods, with lauric acid remaining the predominant fatty acid (~44%). The amino acid profiles were likewise comparable, with glutamate (non-essential) and leucine (essential) identified as the most abundant amino acids. Overall, extraction methods influenced oil yield and proximate composition but did not affect fatty acid or amino acid composition. UAE is recommended as the more efficient method for achieving higher oil recovery and improved quality of defatted protein meal.