Abstract Coffee pulp, the main solid by-product of wet coffee processing, requires appropriate management to recover high-value compounds. This study focused on extracting phenolic compounds—total phenolics and total flavonoids—from coffee pulp using organic and deep eutectic solvents (DES). Among tested solvents, ethanol and choline chloride–citric acid (ChCl–CA) proved the most effective. Extraction was optimized via central composite design and response surface methodology, considering temperature, time, solvent concentration (or water content), and solvent-to-solid ratio. Ethanol extraction (40%) yielded 19.4 ± 0.8 mg gallic acid (GA)/g dry matter (DM) of total phenolics, 13.0 ± 0.6 mg catechin/g DM of total flavonoids, and 80.9 ± 0.8% antioxidant inhibition—used as baseline values. Using ChCl–CA, total phenolics increased by 34%, with antioxidant activity reaching 86.1 ± 1.0% inhibition, despite lower flavonoid content. This suggests enhanced extraction of other phenolic groups contributing to antioxidant capacity. Optimal conditions for ChCl–CA were 49.8% water content, 60.9 min extraction time, 26.8 mL/g solvent-to-solid ratio, and 70 °C. This work clearly presents elevated extraction yields with DES selection, specifically with ChCl–CA, paving the way for sustainable extraction promotion, which could close the loop and thus shift coffee processing and the derived by-products valorization to a greener and more circular holistic process. Graphical Abstract

Abstract This study evaluates the valorization of grape stalks (GS) and winery waste activated sludge (WWAS) via mesophilic co-composting to produce high-quality soil amendments. The primary objective was to resolve uncertainties regarding the necessity of a thermophilic phase for these residues and to identify the optimal operational parameters for effective stabilization. Composting performance was assessed through laboratory-scale trials (12–42 °C) and a nine-week pilot-scale experiment conducted under ambient conditions. The results demonstrate that effective stabilization and organic matter degradation are achievable without a thermophilic phase, provided moisture levels are maintained between 55 and 75%. Microbial activity was found to be highly moisture-dependent, with significant performance declines observed when moisture dropped below 40%. The final composts exhibited superior agronomic quality, characterized by low phytotoxicity (Germination Index > 90%), rapid odor neutralization, and enhanced carbon retention (C:N ratio of 23.8 in pilot trials), suggesting lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional thermophilic processes. These findings establish mesophilic co-composting as a technically viable, low-energy, and scalable strategy. By maximizing carbon fixation and simplifying infrastructure requirements, this approach offers a cost-effective solution for transforming underutilized winery by-products into safe, stable organic fertilizers, directly supporting circular economy goals in viticulture. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Brazil, one of the largest producers and exporters of instant coffee, faces challenges in waste management, particularly due to the highly polluting wastewater generated. This study evaluated soluble coffee wastewater (SCWW) as a cultivation medium for laccase production by the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus and its application in degrading phenolic compounds in the effluent. Laccase production was monitored over 18 days at 28 °C using two media: a synthetic medium and one containing SCWW with a COD of 1000 mg L −1 . Results showed SCWW promoted a 22.3% increase in laccase activity compared to the synthetic medium and enabled degradation of pollutants. The enzyme had an optimal temperature of 40 °C, an ideal pH of 6.0, and high stability across broad temperature and pH ranges. Additionally, the enzymatic extract degraded 32.3% of phenolic compounds in SCWW without chemical mediators. These findings highlight SCWW’s dual potential as a low-cost substrate for enzyme production and as a target for fungal biocatalytic degradation. This offers a promising, sustainable strategy, especially considering the limitations of conventional biological methods inhibited by SCWW’s toxicity. Graphical Abstract

Abstract The pet food industry is continually expanding, and interest in alternative feeding substrates, such as insect meal and novel bioproducts derived from the bioconversion of agro-industrial byproducts by basidiomycete fungi, has increased. Purpose This study investigated meals derived from Lentinula edodes fungi and Black Soldier Fly larvae (BSFM) and assessed their in vitro digestibility and nutritional potential compared with conventional meat and bone meal (MBM) for dog food. Methods The fungal biomeal was obtained via solid-state fermentation of peach palm shells supplemented with soybean meal by L. edodes, while defatted BSFM (BSFMd) was obtained commercially, and MBM was donated by a Brazilian pet food company. Physicochemical characterization was performed by determining protein, ash, total dietary fiber, lipid, carbohydrate, energy, pH, water activity, and moisture contents, and in vitro digestibility was evaluated using a two-phase enzymatic model with pepsin and pancreatin. Results Chemical composition and in vitro digestibility assays were performed on biomeal, BSFMd, and MBM. BSFMd exhibited the highest crude protein content (49.82%), while biomeal was particularly rich in dietary fibers (30.16%). Both meals showed low lipid values (BSFMd 0.69% and biomeal 0.67%). In the intestinal phase, in vitro dry matter digestibility was highest (54.76%) for BSFMd, whereas protein digestibility values were 70.84%, 64.38%, and 66.95% for BSFMd, biomeal, and MBM, respectively. Biomeal showed superior gastric-phase protein digestibility (60.35%), suggesting enhanced early protein hydrolysis. Conclusion These findings highlight that both biomeal and BSFMd have potential as alternative ingredients for dog food, combining nutritional value with sustainability through the bioconversion of agro-industrial byproducts and insect-based protein sources. Graphical Abstract