Mesquite pods ( Prosopis juliflora ) as renewable feedstock for sustainable biorefinery and bio-based products

This study explores the recovery of biomolecules from algaroba (Prosopis juliflora) pods and seeds within a sustainable biorefinery framework. Pods collected from small producers were characterized morphologically and by proximate composition, revealing considerable variability, with strong correlations between weight and size parameters. Seeds exhibited consistent dimensional relationships and high protein content (27.6%), while pods were rich in carbohydrates (54.1%). Under optimized conditions ([Ch][BIT] 10.42% m/v, 1:5 mg mL−1, 25°C, 45 min), seed protein extracts showed high trypsin inhibitory activity (93.8%). For de-seeded pods, sequential extraction of sugars ([Ch][Cl] 1% m/v, 1:10 mg mL−1, 25°C, 60 min) followed by lipid recovery with methanol (1:30 mg mL−1, 55°C, 60 min) maximized yields. This integrated and mild process enabled efficient recovery of proteins, sugars, and lipids while minimizing biomass losses. The findings highlight algaroba pods and seeds as promising renewable feedstocks for sustainable biorefineries and greener extraction of high-value biomolecules.