Insects as a waste-to-lipids platform for sustainable aviation fuel: Production, upgrading, and sustainability.

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) lipids, rich in saturated fatty acids like lauric acid, show high potential for sustainable aviation fuel production via HEFA pathways.

• Why it matters: Current sustainable lipid supplies are insufficient to meet projected SAF demand, highlighting the need for alternative, waste-derived lipid sources to support aviation decarbonization efforts.
• What they did: The review evaluates three insect species—BSFL, housefly larvae, and mealworms—by comparing their lipid contents and assessing their suitability for HEFA processing based on feedstock and reaction conditions, with a focus on BSFL.
• The result: BSFL lipids' high saturated fatty acid content, especially lauric acid, may reduce hydrogenation needs and produce hydrocarbons close to jet-fuel range, supporting insect-based waste-to-lipid pathways as a promising SAF feedstock.