Attacus ricinii (Eri) Pupae Oil as an Alternative Feedstock for the Production of Biofuel

Eri silk is a fine quality silk obtained from the silkworms reared on castor leaves. It comprises of about 8% of the total silk produced in India. It is produced as almost a household activity in certain parts of North-eastern India. The sericulture activities generate huge quantities of the waste silkworm pupae after production of the silk from cocoons. The dumping of this huge waste poses a threat to the environment of the locality. Recent studies have shown that these waste pupae contain 30% or more lipid. The lipid part of the waste eri silkworm pupae can be transesterified with methanol to produce methyl esters of fatty acids. The present study reports a quick and efficient transesterification method to convert the lipid to fatty acid methyl ester. The physicochemical properties of the methyl ester are reported. The parameters fulfill the international requirement for biodiesel. Thus the present work shows that this bio-waste can be converted to good quality fuels which may be used as biodiesel additives.