Comparison of Fuel Properties of Alternative Fuels from Insect Lipids and Their Blending with Diesel Fuel

Ji Eun Lee, Hyun Sung Jang, Yeo Jin Yun, Young Cheol Yang and Jung Hee Jang ()
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Ji Eun Lee: Clean Energy Conversion Research Center, Institute for Advanced Engineering, Yongin-si 17180, Republic of Korea
Hyun Sung Jang: Clean Energy Conversion Research Center, Institute for Advanced Engineering, Yongin-si 17180, Republic of Korea
Yeo Jin Yun: Clean Energy Conversion Research Center, Institute for Advanced Engineering, Yongin-si 17180, Republic of Korea
Young Cheol Yang: Korea Beneficial Insects Laboratory, Co., Ltd., Gokseong-gun 57507, Republic of Korea
Jung Hee Jang: Clean Energy Conversion Research Center, Institute for Advanced Engineering, Yongin-si 17180, Republic of Korea

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-16

Abstract: Drop-in fuels are renewable alternatives that can be integrated into an existing fuel infrastructure without modification. Among these, fuels synthesized from hydroprocessed renewable lipids have garnered significant attention owing to their compatibility with petroleum-based diesel. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of hydrodeoxygenated insect oil (HIO), derived from black soldier fly larvae ( Hermetia illucens ; BSFL), as a renewable drop-in fuel for a diesel blend. The optimal growth conditions for BSFL were studied to maximize lipid production, and the extracted insect oil was subjected to hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) via catalytic reaction. The HIO was blended with commercial diesel at ratios of 5–30%, and its fuel properties were compared with commercial diesel. A detailed fuel property analysis was conducted for the 5% blend to evaluate its suitability as a diesel fuel. Characterization of the blended fuels’ physicochemical properties was carried out to assess the potential of insect-derived fuels for diesel applications.

Keywords: black soldier fly larvae; hydrodeoxygenation; blended fuels; drop-in fuels (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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