Extraction of oil from black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) based industrial sludge via cold-pressed method

Authors

  • Nor Faeqah Idrus Universiti Tenologi MARA , Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1781-5356 (unauthenticated)
    • Conceptualization
    • Supervision
    • Methodology
    • Writing – Review & Editing
    • Validation
  • Nur Ain Mohd Zainuddin Universiti Tenologi MARA , Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
    • Conceptualization
    • Methodology
    • Validation
  • Siti Wahidah Puasa
    • Conceptualization
    • Formal Analysis
  • Nurafifah Hisham Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
    • Conceptualization
    • Methodology
    • Formal Analysis
    • Investigation
    • Writing – Original Draft Preparation

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24191/mjcet.v9i2.8996

Keywords:

Black Soldier Fly Larvae, Tofu sludge, Soya drink sludge, Sludge treatment, Oil extraction

Abstract

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are increasingly utilised to decompose organic waste due to their efficiency in waste composting, nutrient recovery, and income generation. This study investigated the suitability of soy-based industrial sludges, specifically from tofu and soy drink processing that is rich in valuable nutrients, especially protein, as substrate for BSFL. The growth of BSFL fed with these sludges was monitored, and the resulting BSFL oil was extracted using a cold-pressing method. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of protein and fatty acids in both sludge types. Experimental results indicated that the weight and length of larvae increased when fed with wet sludges. However, both weight and length decreased when they were fed with dry sludges, suggesting a BSFL preference for nutrient absorption under high moisture conditions. After 14 days, average larval lengths reached 1.54 cm and 1.43 cm for those fed with wet tofu and wet soya drink sludges, respectively. The extracted BSFL oil consists of lauric acid, palmitic acid and traces of myristic acid. The presence of both protein and lipids in BSFL indicates its potential as a valuable ingredient for animal feed.

References

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Published

03.11.2026

How to Cite

Idrus, N. F., Mohd Zainuddin, N. A., Puasa, S. W., & Hisham, N. (2026). Extraction of oil from black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) based industrial sludge via cold-pressed method. Malaysian Journal of Chemical Engineering and Technology, 9(2), 109-130. https://doi.org/10.24191/mjcet.v9i2.8996

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