Saponins as Sustainable Agrochemicals: Extraction and Recovery from Chenopodium quinoa Residues for Crop Protection

The increasing global demand for Chenopodium quinoa has driven a significant increase in grain processing, generating large volumes of scarification residues. This fine yellowish powder, which accounts for about 8% of the processed grain weight, has no commercial value and is typically discarded. However, it contains approximately 15% saponins, representing a valuable yet underutilized resource with potential applications in agriculture and other industries. In this study, an integrated valorization strategy was developed to recover and purify saponins from quinoa residues. Hydrodynamic cavitation-assisted extraction (HC) yielded an extract containing 12 g/L saponins with a purity of 30%. Subsequent purification through sequential membrane filtration (MF, UF, NF) increased purity to 42%, while final adsorption on macroporous AB-8 resin further enhanced it to 70%. This multi-step process demonstrates an efficient, scalable approach for producing high-quality saponins from agro-industrial byproducts. Saponins are bioactive compounds with well-documented insecticidal, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties. Their recovery from quinoa residues provides a renewable, sustainable source of agrochemicals, offering an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic pesticides. By valorizing this processing waste, the approach contributes to circular bioeconomy principles while promoting environmentally safe crop protection. Future work will focus on formulating saponin-based bio-inputs, including their application as natural surfactants, and conducting field trials to evaluate their effectiveness in pest management. This research highlights the potential of quinoa byproducts as a novel resource for sustainable agriculture.

This study was supported by the National Council for Science, Technology, and Technological Innovation (CONCYTEC) and the National Program for Scientific Research and Advanced Studies (PROCIENCIA), Peru. Grant No. PE501086190-2024.