Refining and Sulfurization of Oil from Black Soldier Fly and Its Application as Biodegradable Lubricant Additive

Black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens), a high lipid containing insect, is considered as a promising candidate for bioconversion of restaurant waste in China. The fresh oil extracted from BSF larvae were refined by degumming, alkaline neutralization, and absorption decolorization. The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis showed that 12:0, 16:0, 18:1, and 18:2 were the main fatty acids, which accounted for more than 80% of the refined BSF oil. Odorless sulfurized BSF oil was synthesized, and the tribological behaviors of the sulfurized BSF oil as a biodegradable additive in base oil 150 N and pure poly‐alpha‐olefin PAO4 were evaluated in comparison with the commonly used sulfurized lard by means of four‐ball friction and wear testers. The formation of CS bond in the vulcanized oil molecules was confirmed by FTIR analysis. Sulfurized BSF oil showed superior load‐carrying capacity and friction‐reducing ability compared with sulfurized lard.