Fruit Pits Recovered from 14 Genotypes of Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) as Potential Biodiesel Feedstock

Abstract

Kernels recovered from fruit pits of 14 apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) genotypes are tested for future application as feedstock for biodiesel production. The difference between the lowest and the highest oil yield between studied samples is over twofold and reached between 27.1 and 58.7% (w/w) dw. The oleic and linoleic acids are the two dominant fatty acids in apricot kernel oils; however, their content is affected meaningfully by the variety and amounted to 38.5–67.2 and 26.4–54.8%, respectively. Two significant correlations (p < 0.000005) are found between oil yield in kernels of different apricot genotypes and two fatty acids, oleic and linoleic (r = 0.947 and r = −0.927, respectively). The biodiesel parameters of 14 apricot genotypes are calculated empirically according to previously developed equations based on the fatty acid methyl esters composition of the potential feedstock. The European biodiesel standards of kinematic viscosity, cetane number, density, and iodine value are met for 13 investigated samples. The exception was noted for genotype HL PSŠ 5. The recorded differences between minimum and maximum value of individual biodiesel parameters calculated empirically for various apricot genotypes differed as follows: 0.20 mm2 s−1 (kinematic viscosity), 4.9 (cetane number), 0.06 MJ kg−1 (higher heating value), 0.0028 g cm−3 (density), 15.6 I2/100 g (iodine value), 1.67 °C (CFPP), and 2.15 h (induction period). The logarithmic regression model in comparison to linear regression model, better expressed the relationship between physicochemical properties of biofuel and the ΣPUFA/(ΣSFA + ΣMUFA) ratio. To confirm the usefulness of the applied empirical equations for biodiesel parameters prediction of the apricot feedstock, five cold‐pressed apricot kernel oils of different origin and with a varied composition of fatty acids are tested experimentally and compared with the values calculated empirically. Practical Applications: Apricot kernels have limited use in food industry due to a high content of the amygdalin. Therefore, application of apricot kernels as potential feedstock for the biodiesel production seems to be reasonable, especially due rich oil yield (up to even 60%). In this paper the impact of the apricot genotype on the potential application in the biodiesel industry as well as the relationship between the oil yield and apricot biodiesel quality is described. Obtained biodiesel parameters of 14 apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) genotype oils can help estimate the economic perspectives of utilization as a potential energy source. The present study may contribute to the more targeted use of the apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) kernels and promotes the efficient management of the plant material and environmental sustainability. Kernels recovered from fruit pits of 14 apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) genotypes are tested for future application as feedstock for biodiesel production. High oil yield 27–58.7% (w/w) dw and predomination of the oleic and linoleic acids 38.5–67.2 and 26.4–54.8%, respectively, is record...

Recovery of Tocopherols, Amygdalin, and Fatty Acids From Apricot Kernel Oil: Cold Pressing Versus Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

“…The development of improved value of a certain by‐product depends on the type of processing, while the composition of the obtained material depends also on the plant cultivar . The moisture content in “Hungarian Best” sweet apricot kernel seed cultivar after drying was determined to be 6.87%, which is similar to the results of Femenia et al, where moisture content was 5.4–6.7%, depending on the type of kernels (whether they were sweet or bitter kernels).…”

“…Regarding apricot kernel oil, the genotype specifically affects the oil yield and the composition of FAs . Fatty acid composition of apricot kernel seed oils, obtained by two different extraction techniques, which clearly show a very similar composition with some minor deviations, is given in Table .…”

Accumulation Pattern of Amygdalin and Prunasin and Its Correlation with Fruit and Kernel Agronomic Characteristics during Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) Kernel Development

“…It shows strong adaptation to stress and can be cultivated on marginal land. The kernels of apricot contain substantial amounts of oil [ 1 ], proteins, fiber, phenolics, minerals and bioactive compounds [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ], and play an important role not only in human nutrition and health [ 10 ], but also in the medicine, food and cosmetic industries [ 11 , 12 ] and biodiesel [ 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Apricot kernels contain the toxic phenylalanine-derived cyanogenic glycoside amygdalin, accompanied by minor amounts of prunasin, which is a precursor of the diglucoside amygdalin, a β-D-monoglucoside of R-mandelonitrile.…”

Impact of genotype on fatty acid profile, oil content and nutritional value of the sweet fruits of Acrocomia aculeata

“…The genetic diversity related to fruit characteristics, oil content and fatty acid profile was also observed by Conceição et al (2013aConceição et al ( , 2013bConceição et al ( , 2015b for A. aculeata genotypes from Brazil. The impact of the genotypes variation was also observed by Górnaś et al (2017Górnaś et al ( , 2018 for fatty acids of kernel oil among plum (Prunus domestica L. and P. cerasifera) and apricot (P. armeniaca) genotypes.…”