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Volume 15
Issue 19
10.3390/app151910777
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Article

Effect of Artificial Diet Modification with Dextrose on the Growth and Fatty Acid Composition of Tenebrio molitor Larvae for Biodiesel Production

by
Miguel Alejandro Flores-Sánchez
1,
Amanda Kim Rico-Chávez
1,
Marco Martín González-Chávez
2,
Rodolfo Figueroa-Brito
3,
Juan Campos-Guillen
1,
Carlos Eduardo Zavala-Gómez
1,
Aldo Amaro-Reyes
1,
Joel de Jesús Barba-Franco
4 and
Miguel Angel Ramos-López
1,*
1
Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Querétaro 76010, Mexico
2
Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico
3
Centro de Desarrollo de Productos Bióticos (CEPROBI-IPN), Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Yautepec, Morelos 62731, Mexico
4
Centro Universitario de los Lagos, Universidad de Guadalajara, Lagos de Moreno 47463, Mexico
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(19), 10777; https://doi.org/10.3390/app151910777
Submission received: 6 August 2025 / Revised: 3 October 2025 / Accepted: 4 October 2025 / Published: 7 October 2025
Versions Notes

Abstract

Tenebrio molitor larvae are a promising source for the next generation of liquid biofuels. However, the conditions and processes required for rearing this insect for biodiesel production need to be investigated. In this study, the effect of dextrose addition to an artificial diet in the oil and biodiesel yield was evaluated. Larvae were fed artificial diets modified with 3, 6, 9, and 15% dextrose. Survival rate, mean dry weight, and oil yield were registered. The 15% dextrose addition resulted in 75% survival, 25 mg individual dry weight, and 29% oil yield. The main components of this oil were palmitic acid (14%), oleic acid (37%), and linoleic acid (20%). With the addition of dextrose, the total saturated fatty acids increased 13% and the polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased 16% compared to the control. However, with the transesterification reaction, the fatty acid methyl esters remained similar for both treatments, with methyl oleate, methyl linoleate, and methyl linolenate as major components. This suggest that the transesterification reaction was incomplete, due to the oil/methanol ratio or the catalyst. Thus, even though a more balanced saturated/unsaturated fatty acid profile can be achieved through dextrose addition, another transesterification method should be tested to obtain a complete reaction.
Keywords: Tenebrio molitor; biofuel; fatty acids; transesterification Tenebrio molitor; biofuel; fatty acids; transesterification

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MDPI and ACS Style

Flores-Sánchez, M.A.; Rico-Chávez, A.K.; González-Chávez, M.M.; Figueroa-Brito, R.; Campos-Guillen, J.; Zavala-Gómez, C.E.; Amaro-Reyes, A.; Barba-Franco, J.d.J.; Ramos-López, M.A. Effect of Artificial Diet Modification with Dextrose on the Growth and Fatty Acid Composition of Tenebrio molitor Larvae for Biodiesel Production. Appl. Sci. 2025, 15, 10777. https://doi.org/10.3390/app151910777

AMA Style

Flores-Sánchez MA, Rico-Chávez AK, González-Chávez MM, Figueroa-Brito R, Campos-Guillen J, Zavala-Gómez CE, Amaro-Reyes A, Barba-Franco JdJ, Ramos-López MA. Effect of Artificial Diet Modification with Dextrose on the Growth and Fatty Acid Composition of Tenebrio molitor Larvae for Biodiesel Production. Applied Sciences. 2025; 15(19):10777. https://doi.org/10.3390/app151910777

Chicago/Turabian Style

Flores-Sánchez, Miguel Alejandro, Amanda Kim Rico-Chávez, Marco Martín González-Chávez, Rodolfo Figueroa-Brito, Juan Campos-Guillen, Carlos Eduardo Zavala-Gómez, Aldo Amaro-Reyes, Joel de Jesús Barba-Franco, and Miguel Angel Ramos-López. 2025. "Effect of Artificial Diet Modification with Dextrose on the Growth and Fatty Acid Composition of Tenebrio molitor Larvae for Biodiesel Production" Applied Sciences 15, no. 19: 10777. https://doi.org/10.3390/app151910777

APA Style

Flores-Sánchez, M. A., Rico-Chávez, A. K., González-Chávez, M. M., Figueroa-Brito, R., Campos-Guillen, J., Zavala-Gómez, C. E., Amaro-Reyes, A., Barba-Franco, J. d. J., & Ramos-López, M. A. (2025). Effect of Artificial Diet Modification with Dextrose on the Growth and Fatty Acid Composition of Tenebrio molitor Larvae for Biodiesel Production. Applied Sciences, 15(19), 10777. https://doi.org/10.3390/app151910777

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