Valorization of tropical fruit seed wastes for biodiesel production: A review of extraction technologies, catalytic systems, and biorefinery perspectives Manita Kamjam, Somkiat Ngamprasertsith, Wirasinee Supang, Ruengwit Sawangkeaw Biomass and Bioenergy, 2026 Biodiesel is emerging as a promising renewable energy source; however, the primary feedstock resources for biodiesel are edible oils, which creates a conflict between food security and fuel production. Although non-edible and waste-derived feedstocks for biodiesel production have been widely studied, a comprehensive review of tropical fruit waste seeds as seasonally available, low-cost feedstocks, encompassing an assessment of extraction technologies and catalytic performance, remains unexplored. This review concentrates on the utilization of tropical fruit waste seeds, including rambutan ( Nephelium lappaceum ), papaya ( Carica papaya ), tamarind ( Tamarindus indica ), watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus ), orange ( Citrus sinensis , Citrus reticulate , Citrus tangerine , and Citrus aurantium ), mango ( Mangifera indica ), and jackfruit ( Artocarpus heterophyllus ), as sources for biodiesel production. It provides a comprehensive review of various biodiesel feedstocks, oil extraction methodologies, and catalytic transesterification processes, highlighting their respective advantages and disadvantages. The review also offers insights into current trends and prospective developments in the field. Additionally, it summarizes the valorization of solid residues generated by fruit processing industries. The findings emphasize the potential of tropical fruit waste seeds as alternative raw materials for biodiesel synthesis and propose a sustainable approach to waste management and renewable energy demands.
Valorization of Rambutan Seed Waste into Biodiesel via Non-Catalytic Supercritical Ethanol and Ethyl Acetate Manita Kamjam, Doonyapong Wongsawaeng, Ruengwit Sawangkeaw, Wirasinee Supang, Peter Hosemann, Phachirarat Sola, Somkiat Ngamprasertsith Energies, 2025 Rambutan seed waste from fruit processing remains underutilized, while conventional biodiesel routes face high feedstock costs and food-versus-fuel concerns. This study investigated a novel catalyst-free process for biodiesel production from rambutan seed waste using supercritical ethanol and ethyl acetate as renewable reactants to valorize fruit by-products. Batch reactions on the semi-solid fraction of rambutan seed oil (RSO) were conducted at 15 MPa to evaluate the effects of temperature (275–375 °C), reactant-to-oil molar ratio (20:1–40:1), and reaction time (15–50 min) on fatty acid ethyl ester (FAEE) yield. Under optimal conditions, FAEE yields of 59.92 and 41.92% were obtained using ethanol (350 °C, 40:1, 30 min) and ethyl acetate (350 °C, 30:1, 40 min), respectively. However, severe conditions degraded unsaturated esters, revealing a conversion–stability trade-off. The ethanol system exhibited faster reaction kinetics and lower activation energy than ethyl acetate. Applying the optimized ethanol-based conditions to the liquid fraction of RSO, which contained a lower proportion of saturated fatty acids, resulted in a markedly improved FAEE yield of 94.16%. This study demonstrated a catalyst-free supercritical route for converting rambutan seed waste into biodiesel, advancing waste-to-energy strategies and circular bioeconomy.
Simultaneous extraction of crude polysaccharides, soluble proteins, gingerols, and shogaols from dried ginger by subcritical water extraction Winatta Sakdasri, Sunanta Kaomaneechot, Sarida Lasim, Pichayada Somboon, Natthaporn Chotigavin, Patthranit Wongpromrat, Ruengwit Sawangkeaw Lwt, 2025 Subcritical water extraction (SWE) is a remarkable method for the simultaneous extraction of high- and low-polarity bioactive compounds from ginger. This study investigated the effects of temperature, pressure, and extraction time on the crude polysaccharide yield, protein content, total phenolic content (TPC), and amounts of 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol. The pressure was maintained at 30 bars, and the temperature and extraction time were optimized to maximize the polysaccharide yield, protein, TPC, gingerols, and shogaols contents. The rising temperatures (100–160 °C) and extended extraction times (10–50 min) enhanced the yield and TPC but negatively affected protein stability, leading to thermal degradation when the temperature surpassed 180 °C. Specifically, the content of 6-gingerol decreased at high temperatures because of its conversion into 6-shogaol. The optimal extraction conditions were 160°C for 40 min at 30 bars, resulting in a polysaccharide yield of 8.54%, protein content of 100.35 mg body surface area/g dry mass, TPC of 18.10 mg Galic acid (GA)/g dry mass, 6-gingerol content of 2.14 mg/g dry mass, and 6-shogaol content of 0.28 mg/g dry mass. Therefore, SWE effectively extracts various polar bioactive compounds from plant materials in a single step. • Subcritical water facilitated co-extraction of high-polar and low-polar compounds. • Higher temperatures (100-160 °C) increase polysaccharide and shogaol yields. • Above extraction temperature of 180°C, 6-gingerol was converted into 6-shogaol. • Temperatures above 180 °C harmed protein stability in the extracts.
Effects of temperature and pressure on volatile compounds of black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa L.) oil extracted by supercritical carbon dioxide Winatta Sakdasri, Buntita Sakulkittiyut, Somkiat Ngamprasertsith, Wirasinee Supang, Ruengwit Sawangkeaw JAOCS Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society, 2025 This study investigated the effects of temperature and pressure on the yield and volatile compound contents of black cumin seed oil (BCO) extracted from black cumin seeds using supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2). The solubility of BCO in SCCO2 increased 2.5‐fold as the pressure increased by 10 MPa. Major volatile compounds in BCO were identified using a static headspace gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SH–GC–MS). Evidence indicated the main volatile components in SCCO2‐extracted BCO to be hexanal, p‐cymene, and thymoquinone. BCO extracted from China‐cultivated black cumin seed contained similar amounts of p‐cymene and thymoquinone. This black cumin seed is classified as the cymene/thymoquinone chemotype and is also found in Indian, Iranian, and Algerian black cumin seeds. Thymoquinone contents in BCO were more sensitive to the extraction temperature than hexanal and p‐cymene contents. The maximum oil yield of 36.28 ± 1.38 wt%, with approximately 2.0 mg of thymoquinone per milliliter of oil, was obtained at extraction temperatures of 50°C and pressures of 30 MPa. A SH–GC–MS could detect small molecules in black cumin seed oil such as hexanal. The results of this work reveal that temperature has more impact on the selectivity of volatile compounds than pressure in supercritical carbon dioxide extraction.
Valorization of tropical fruit seed wastes for biodiesel production: A review of extraction technologies, catalytic systems, and biorefinery perspectives M Kamjam, S Ngamprasertsith, W Supang, R Sawangkeaw Biomass and Bioenergy 212, 109243 , 2026 2026 Citations: 1
Biodiesel production from spent coffee grounds via ethanolic extraction and supercritical ethanol transesterification: technoeconomic analysis and life cycle assessment W Supang, S Ngamprasertsith, P Nimmanterdwong, W Sakdasri, ... Energy Systems, 1-18 , 2026 2026
Valorization of Rambutan Seed Waste into Biodiesel via Non-Catalytic Supercritical Ethanol and Ethyl Acetate M Kamjam, D Wongsawaeng, R Sawangkeaw, W Supang, P Hosemann, ... Energies 18 (22), 6004 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Technoeconomic analysis of biofuel production from spent coffee grounds using supercritical ethyl acetate W Supang, S Ngamprasertsith, W Sakdasri, R Sawangkeaw The Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 106834 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
Simultaneous extraction of crude polysaccharides, soluble proteins, gingerols, and shogaols from dried ginger by subcritical water extraction W Sakdasri, S Kaomaneechot, S Lasim, P Somboon, N Chotigavin, ... Lwt 225, 117912 , 2025 2025 Citations: 6
Life cycle assessment of spray-drying encapsulation of crude peptides produced from defective green coffee beans P Hunsub, S Ngamprasertsith, N Prichapan, W Sakdasri, A Karnchanatat, ... Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy 27 (3), 1535-1550 , 2025 2025 Citations: 6
Effects of temperature and pressure on volatile compounds of black cumin seeds ( Nigella sativa L.) oil extracted by supercritical carbon dioxide W Sakdasri, B Sakulkittiyut, S Ngamprasertsith, W Supang, ... Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society 102 (1), 61-69 , 2025 2025 Citations: 4
Biodiesel production from spent coffee grounds by using ethanolic extraction and supercritical transesterification W Supang, S Ngamprasertsith, W Sakdasri, R Sawangkeaw BioEnergy Research 17 (4), 2429-2439 , 2024 2024 Citations: 16
The Great Versatility of Supercritical Fluids in Industrial Processes: A Focus on Chemical, Agri-Food and Energy Applications M Kamjam, S Ngamprasertsith, R Sawangkeaw, M Charoenchaitrakool, ... Processes 12 (11), 2402 , 2024 2024 Citations: 19
Effects of defatting pretreatment on polysaccharide extraction from rambutan seeds using subcritical water: Optimization using the desirability approach K Nilmat, P Hunsub, S Ngamprasertsith, W Sakdasri, A Karnchanatat, ... Foods 13 (13), 1967 , 2024 2024 Citations: 13
Sequential process to valorization of rambutan seed waste by supercritical CO2-ethanol and subcritical water extractions K Nilmat, S Ngamprasertsith, W Sakdasri, A Karnchanatat, ... Chemical Engineering Transactions 109, 313-318 , 2024 2024 Citations: 7
Lemon basil seed-derived peptide: Hydrolysis, purification, and its role as a pancreatic lipase inhibitor that reduces adipogenesis by downregulating SREBP-1c and PPAR-γ in 3T3 … K Kuptawach, S Noitung, A Buakeaw, S Puthong, R Sawangkeaw, ... Plos one 19 (5), e0301966 , 2024 2024 Citations: 12
Production of coffee oil and bioactive peptides from spent coffee grounds via supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and enzymatic hydrolysis P Hunsub, K Ponmana, S Ngamprasertsith, W Sakdasri, A Karnchanatat, ... Waste and Biomass Valorization 15 (4), 2061-2070 , 2024 2024 Citations: 7
Polysaccharide extraction from defatted rambutan seeds with hot water and subcritical water extractions K Nilmat, S Ngamprasertsith, W Sakdasri, P Jirukkalul, A Karnchanatat, ... Biology and Life Sciences Forum 26 (1), 75 , 2023 2023 Citations: 5
Production of Protein Hydrolysates from Spent Coffee Grounds via Microwave, Enzymatic, and Subcritical Water Extractions and Their Combination P Hunsub, S Ngamprasertsith, N Prichapan, W Sakdasri, A Karnchanatat, ... Biology and Life Sciences Forum 26 (1), 43 , 2023 2023 Citations: 3
Optimization of coffee oil extraction from defective beans using a supercritical carbon dioxide technique: Its effect on volatile aroma components W Pattaraprachyakul, R Sawangkeaw, S Ngamprasertsith, ... Foods 12 (13), 2515 , 2023 2023 Citations: 14
Ethanol as Extracting and Reacting Solvents for Biodiesel Production from Spent Coffee Grounds in Supercritical Condition W SUPANG, N CHAROENDEE, S NGAMPRASERTSITH, W SAKDASRI, ... 旭硝子財団助成研究成果報告= Reports of research assisted by the Asahi Glass … , 2023 2023
Optimization of yield and thymoquinone content of screw press-extracted black cumin seed oil using response surface methodology W Sakdasri, P Sila-Ngam, S Chummengyen, A Sukruay, ... Industrial Crops and Products 191, 115901 , 2023 2023 Citations: 17
Pressurized hot water extraction of crude polysaccharides, β-glucan, and phenolic compounds from dried gray oyster mushroom W Sakdasri, P Arnutpongchai, S Phonsavat, E Bumrungthaichaichan, ... Lwt 168, 113895 , 2022 2022 Citations: 44
Ethyl acetate as extracting solvent and reactant for producing biodiesel from spent coffee grounds: A catalyst-and glycerol-free process W Supang, S Ngamprasertsith, W Sakdasri, R Sawangkeaw The Journal of Supercritical Fluids 186, 105586 , 2022 2022 Citations: 30
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Continuous production of biodiesel via transesterification from vegetable oils in supercritical methanol K Bunyakiat, S Makmee, R Sawangkeaw, S Ngamprasertsith Energy & Fuels 20 (2), 812-817 , 2006 2006 Citations: 394
A review of lipid-based biomasses as feedstocks for biofuels production R Sawangkeaw, S Ngamprasertsith Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 25, 97-108 , 2013 2013 Citations: 209
A review of laboratory-scale research on lipid conversion to biodiesel with supercritical methanol (2001–2009) R Sawangkeaw, K Bunyakiat, S Ngamprasertsith The Journal of Supercritical Fluids 55 (1), 1-13 , 2010 2010 Citations: 184
Techno-economic analysis of biodiesel production from palm oil with supercritical methanol at a low molar ratio W Sakdasri, R Sawangkeaw, S Ngamprasertsith Energy 152, 144-153 , 2018 2018 Citations: 82
Effect of co-solvents on production of biodiesel via transesterification in supercritical methanol R Sawangkeaw, K Bunyakiat, S Ngamprasertsith Green Chemistry 9 (6), 679-685 , 2007 2007 Citations: 76
Biofuel production from palm oil with supercritical alcohols: Effects of the alcohol to oil molar ratios on the biofuel chemical composition and properties R Sawangkeaw, S Teeravitud, K Bunyakiat, S Ngamprasertsith Bioresource technology 102 (22), 10704-10710 , 2011 2011 Citations: 73
Pressurized hot water extraction of crude polysaccharides, β-glucan, and phenolic compounds from dried gray oyster mushroom W Sakdasri, P Arnutpongchai, S Phonsavat, E Bumrungthaichaichan, ... Lwt 168, 113895 , 2022 2022 Citations: 44
Statistical optimization of biodiesel production from para rubber seed oil by SO3H-MCM-41 catalyst C Samart, S Karnjanakom, C Chaiya, P Reubroycharoen, R Sawangkeaw, ... Arabian Journal of Chemistry 12 (8), 2028-2036 , 2019 2019 Citations: 43
Continuous production of biodiesel with supercritical methanol: Optimization of a scale-up plug flow reactor by response surface methodology R Sawangkeaw, K Bunyakiat, S Ngamprasertsith Fuel processing technology 92 (12), 2285-2292 , 2011 2011 Citations: 43
Supercritical Transesterification of Palm Oil and Hydrated Ethanol in a Fixed Bed Reactor with a CaO/Al 2 O 3 Catalyst R Sawangkeaw, P Tejvirat, C Ngamcharassrivichai, S Ngamprasertsith Energies 5 (4), 1062-1080 , 2012 2012 Citations: 39
Continuous production of palm biofuel under supercritical ethyl acetate C Komintarachat, R Sawangkeaw, S Ngamprasertsith Energy Conversion and Management 93, 332-338 , 2015 2015 Citations: 37
Continuous production of biofuel from refined and used palm olein oil with supercritical methanol at a low molar ratio W Sakdasri, R Sawangkeaw, S Ngamprasertsith Energy conversion and management 103, 934-942 , 2015 2015 Citations: 34
Transesterification in supercritical conditions S Ngamprasertsith, R Sawangkeaw Biodiesel-Feedstocks and Processing Technologies. Rijeka: InTech, p247-268 , 2011 2011 Citations: 33
Integrated process for the production of fermentable sugar and methane from rubber wood B Charnnok, R Sawangkeaw, S Chaiprapat Bioresource technology 302, 122785 , 2020 2020 Citations: 32
Biofuel production from crude palm oil with supercritical alcohols: Comparative LCA studies R Sawangkeaw, S Teeravitud, P Piumsomboon, S Ngamprasertsith Bioresource technology 120, 6-12 , 2012 2012 Citations: 32
Ethyl acetate as extracting solvent and reactant for producing biodiesel from spent coffee grounds: A catalyst-and glycerol-free process W Supang, S Ngamprasertsith, W Sakdasri, R Sawangkeaw The Journal of Supercritical Fluids 186, 105586 , 2022 2022 Citations: 30
Lipid-based biofuel synthesized from palm-olein oil by supercritical ethyl acetate in fixed-bed reactor W Sakdasri, S Ngamprasertsith, S Daengsanun, R Sawangkeaw Energy Conversion and Management 182, 215-223 , 2019 2019 Citations: 28
Supercritical reaction between methanol and glycerol: the effects of reaction products on biodiesel properties W Sakdasri, S Ngamprasertsith, P Saengsuk, R Sawangkeaw Energy Conversion and Management: X 12, 100145 , 2021 2021 Citations: 26
Caryophyllene oxide extraction from lemon basil (Ocimum citriodorum Vis.) straw by hydrodistillation and supercritical CO2 S Ngamprasertsith, J Menwa, R Sawangkeaw The Journal of Supercritical Fluids 138, 1-6 , 2018 2018 Citations: 23
An entirely renewable biofuel production from used palm oil with supercritical ethanol at low molar ratio W Sakdasri, R Sawangkeaw, S Ngamprasertsith Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering 34 (4), 1023-1034 , 2017 2017 Citations: 23