Characterization of protein concentrates obtained by defatting cricket, locust, and silkworm powders using one-step organic solvent extraction

Nutritional and functional properties were determined on proteins recovered from cricket, locust, and silkworm using a one-step organic solvent (OS) lipid extraction process. Hexane (H), chloroform (C), methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE), hexane:isopropanol (HI, 3.2, vol:vol) and chloroform:methanol (CM, 2:1, vol:vol) was used as the extraction solvents. Proximate composition, SDS-page, amino acid (AA) profile, and solubility were measured on the defatted insect powders. H and MTBE was the most effective OS tested, with the greatest concentration of protein and least lipid (p < 0.05) in the defatted insect powders. SDS-Page revealed a variety of proteins in each of the samples. The AA concentrations were increased in all H and MTBE samples. Defatted insect powders were most soluble between pH 11 and pH 12 when MTBE or H was used as the OS. Results show H or MTBE has the potential to extract lipids and concentrate protein from insect powders. Practical application: Protein concentrates were developed by defatting insect powders (cricket, locust, silkworm) with a one-step extraction process that tested different organic solvents (OS). The resulting protein concentrates contained on average 75% protein and amino acid concentrations were increased. Results showed that of the OS tested, hexane or methyl-tert-butyl ether were most effective at removing lipids and concentrating protein from insect powders.