Application of Black Soldier Fly Larvae to Convert Municipal Organic Waste to Value-Added Chemicals

In the PhD thesis, waste remediation via insect “biocatalysis” was investigated, with particular focus on the production of value-added chemicals from fatty oils, and chitin obtained from black soldier fly larvae. The project aimed to combat two concurrent global issues: increasing amounts of municipal organic waste, and issues surrounding the use of unsustainable natural resources. The viability of the process from waste management to complete synthesis of value-added chemicals using BSFL was investigated and created. In
the first stage of the project, the process of extracting oils resulting from feeding larvae on specific organic waste diets was examined and optimised. The fatty acid profile of BSFL oil was identified by chromatographic techniques and purified by distillation. Subsequent to isolation of the oil, the next stage of research involved the synthesis of different valuable chemicals. This ranged from biofuels to surfactants, and was completed using BSFL oil; following various organic chemistry and novel chemical lab-based methodology. In the third stage, chitin was extracted from the insect cuticle, and converted to chitosan and its application as a catalyst support tested in the selective synthesis of jasminaldehyde. Within this, the feasibility of switching the traditional demineralisation acid from a mineral acid to an organic one was explored. A review on previous literature research was completed on processes in the syntheses leading to, and including, the production of value-added chemicals, and it is hoped that the research completed herein will be impactful to society in the future.