Innovative Study Turns Cherry Pits into a Sustainable Raw Material for Biodiesel

At the 51st International Conference of the Slovak Society of Chemical Engineering (SSCHE 2025), held from May 27 to 30 in Jasná, Slovakia, a study was presented on the efficient extraction of oil from waste cherry pits – a promising resource for second-generation biodiesel.

The team from the University of Belgrade, in partnership with InnoHive (Greece) and the Faculty of Agriculture in Belgrade, demonstrated that a rapid, low-cost solvent extraction can obtain oil with high lipid content from the pits of the Oblačinska variety (Prunus cerasus L.) in just five minutes. The method works for both whole pits as well as separated seeds and shells.

The full results have been officially published in Meat Technology (2025), with analyses performed using GC-MS, HPLC, LC-MS, and spectroscopic techniques confirming the presence of valuable lipids, pigments, and bioactive components. This highlights the potential of cherry pits as a low-cost, low-acidity, and high-lipid raw material for sustainable biodiesel production.

This research was supported by the European Project 101179991- VERDEDRIVE - HORIZON-MSCA-2023-SE-01 titled: “Harnessing by-products for the creation of eco-friendly and sustainable diesel fuel.”

Who this is relevant for: Biofuel industry professionals, researchers, and engineers seeking sustainable raw materials and technologies for reusing agri-food waste, fruit producers.