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Ultrasound-Assisted Alcoholic Extraction of Lesser Mealworm Larvae Oil: Process Optimization, Physicochemical
Seyed Mohammad Taghi Gharibzahedi1,2, Zeynep Altintas1,2
1Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Maths, Technical University of Berlin, Straße des 17, Juni 124, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 27, 2022
Summary
Optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction of oil from lesser mealworm larvae using ethanol/isopropanol significantly boosted extraction efficiency and antioxidant activity while reducing energy consumption compared to traditional methods.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Food Science
- Sustainable Chemistry
Background:
- Lesser mealworm larvae (Alphitobius diaperinus L.) are a potential source of valuable oils.
- Traditional extraction methods often lack efficiency and sustainability.
- Optimizing extraction techniques is crucial for maximizing oil yield and quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To optimize ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of oil from lesser mealworm larvae powders (LMLPs).
- To evaluate the efficiency of ethanol/isopropanol as a solvent for UAE.
- To assess the impact of UAE on oil quality, including antioxidant activity and oxidative stability.
Main Methods:
- Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was employed to extract oil from LMLPs.
- Ethanol/isopropanol mixture was used as the solvent.
- Extraction parameters including time, solvent-to-LMLPs ratio, and temperature were optimized.
- Extraction efficiency (EE), in vitro antioxidant activity (IVAA), and microstructural changes were evaluated.
- Comparison with n-hexane extraction was performed.
Main Results:
- Optimal UAE conditions (22.5 v/w solvent-to-LMLPs, 70 °C, 22.64 min) yielded 88.08% EE and enhanced IVAA.
- UAE with ethanol/isopropanol reduced electric energy consumption by approximately 18.5 times compared to n-hexane extraction.
- Oil diffusivity was significantly higher in ethanol-isopropanol (0.97 × 10−9 m2/s) than in n-hexane (5.07 × 10−11 m2/s).
- Improved IVAA correlated with higher total phenolic and carotenoid content.
- Ethanol-isopropanol UAE improved oxidative stability, indicated by lower levels of peroxides, conjugated dienes/trienes, and free fatty acids.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasound-assisted extraction with ethanol/isopropanol is a highly efficient and sustainable method for oil extraction from lesser mealworm larvae.
- This method enhances oil quality, particularly antioxidant properties and oxidative stability.
- The optimized UAE process offers significant energy savings and improved oil diffusivity.
