Exploring the potential of the cockroach Periplaneta americana as a source of biofuel

Abstract

newline ix newlineABSTRACT newlineFossil fuels are non renewable sources of energy. In future they will be newlinedepleted. There is a need to develop a fuel which is an alternative to fossil fuel newlineand fulfils the world s energy demand. Biodiesel is one of the most important newlinefuels for the next generation and is an alternative to petro diesel. It is mainly newlineobtained from vegetable oils and animals and other feedstock. Using vegetable newlineoil is not economically advantageous for us because its costs higher than that newlineof diesel fuel. Animal fats have the capability to become novel feedstock for newlinebiodiesel production and lower the cost of biodiesel. Biodiesel contains fatty newlineacid methyl esters (FAME) and is called biodiesel only when used as fuel in newlinediesel engines and heating systems. Biodiesel has advantages like being eco newlinefriendly it but also has disadvantages. Several institutes in India are working newlineon biofuels. They mainly work on plants (like jatropha), algae, bacteria and newlinemicroorganisms. Several new techniques are used including genetically newlineengineered plants and organisms that are used for the biofuel production. But newlineprior to our work, no one had done biofuel production from cockroach. newlineCockroach (Periplaneta americana) is an insect belonging to order Blattodea. newlineCockroaches were analysed for their oil properties and fatty acids. Soxhlet newlinemethod was used for the extraction of lipids. Extraction of lipids was done by newlinepetroleum ether. Transesterification reaction was performed with ethanol, newlineusing sodium hydroxide as catalyst, to produce biodiesel from lipids extracted newlinefrom cockroaches. The properties of biodiesel produced were compared with newlineEN1421-08, ASTMD6751-10 standards. Protein content was determined by newlineLowry method. The methyl ester content in biodiesel was measured by GCMS. newlineA wide range of fatty acids and other compounds were identified. newlineAnalysis by GC-MS separated 6 and 10 components from the lipid extract and newlinebiodiesel respectively. The biofuel obtained by means of this process can be newlinesuitable for further use. The results indicated that the cockroach Periplaneta newlineamericana is a promising species as a biodiesel feedstock. newlineKeywords: Biofuel, Insects, Periplaneta americana, Solvent, Soxhlet newlineExtraction, Petroleum ether, Fatty Acid, Transesterification, GC-MS