Oil cake recovery supports biofuel production sustainability from second-generation non-edible oil-crops

The recovery and use of oil crops' byproducts is becoming essential to assure the sustainability of biodiesel production. This work aims to study oil cakes obtained from three second-generation oil feedstocks, i.e., Brassica juncea, Brassica carinata, and Camelina sativa, to be used as animal feed. To do so oil cakes were characterized for crude protein content, fibre fractions, macro- and micro-nutrient composition. Fatty acids and amino acid profiles and energy contents were also determined. Results indicated good nutritional properties for the oil cakes, particularly for AA and FA. A preliminary study to evaluate the effect of cakes' recovery on biodiesel production sustainability indicated a GHG reduction vs. petroleum diesel of 70 %, 67 %, 65 % for B. carinata, B. juncea, C. sativa, respectively. These data may be compared with the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II, 2021) of the EU that asks for a GHG reduction of 65 %.