Composition and oxidative stability of oils extracted from Zophobas morio and Tenebrio molitor using pressurized n-propane

Abstract

The profiles of oils extracted from insects have drawn attention recently in several studies because of their nutritional quality. The objective of this study was to determine how extraction using pressurized n-propane affects the composition, oxidative stability, and health indices of oils from two species of edible insect larvae, Zophobas morio (ZM) and Tenebrio molitor (TM), compared to Soxhlet extraction carried out with hexane as the solvent. The Sovová mathematical model satisfactorily represented the kinetic extraction curves. The yields obtained with n-propane were lower than those obtained with hexane via Soxhlet extraction; however, n-propane extraction required less time and resulted in oils with good oxidative stability. The extracted oils possessed intermediate characteristics between those from animals and vegetables, thereby representing an alternative source of oils and fats.