ORGANIC WASTE BIOCONVERSION AND WEIGHT GAIN DYNAMICS OF THE BLACK SOLDIER FLY Hermetia illucens

The anaerobic decomposition of urban organic wastes produces significant amounts of environmentally harmful biogases and leachates. In the context of a circular economy, the valuation of these wastes is an alternative for producing environmental and economic benefits. Hermetia illucens larvae digest a wide range of organic materials, converting them into high-value protein, oils and organic fertilizer. The bioconversion and weight gain dynamics of larvae fed with household waste (HW), restaurant waste (RW), pig manure (PM) and bovine manure (BM) were measured. By fitting the data to the logistical model, rates of larval weight gain and waste decomposition were calculated. The highest weight gain was obtained with RW (0.315 +/- 0.090 g (g(center dot) d)(-1)), followed by BM (0.214 +/- 0.054 g (g(center dot) d)(-1)), PM (0.213 +/- 0.064 g (g(center dot) d)(-1)), and HW (0.199 +/- 0.064 g (g(center dot) d)(-1)). The larvae decomposed PM, RW, and HW with the same efficiency (0.72 - 0.85 g d(-1)) and faster than BM (0.53 g d(-1)). The data adjustment to the logistical model helped analyze the weight gain dynamics of the larvae, as well as the bioconversion of wastes into biomass and the waste decomposition. This information provides criteria for optimizing organic waste management.