Hermetia illucens larvae fat vs coconut oil to obtain free lauric acid-rich products by chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis

Abstract

Lauric acid is present in various vegetable fats and has been shown to be beneficial for human health and well-being. The interest in the properties of this fatty acid has led to an increase in the production and consumption of oils rich in lauric acid, primarily coconut oil. Despite being less known, there is an atypical animal source of lauric acid that can be considered more sustainable and that has levels of this fatty acid comparable to coconut oil, as the case of the larvae of the edible insect black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is. Due to the fact that some of the bioactive properties of lauric acid are linked to its free form, and also to facilitate subsequent concentration processes, the release of the fatty acid from the triacylglycerols present in fats becomes necessary. In this study, chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis for transforming both lauric acid-rich fats into a product rich in free fatty acids (FFA) were investigated. Different variables were studied, such as reaction time and the amount of catalyst used, resulting in maximum conversions to FFA in the case of chemical hydrolysis in just 20 min for both fats. Furthermore, the efficiency of the lipase Eversa® Transform 2.0 in generating a lauric acid-rich product from both oils was demonstrated, but in this case, a longer time was needed. The products obtained through both types of hydrolysis contained high percentages of free lauric acid, also exhibiting high stability against oxidation. This makes H. illucens larvae fat a comparable and alternative source to coconut oil to produce lauric-acid rich products useful for different applications.