Pea Within Pea: Microencapsulation of Pea Pod Extract Using Pea Grain Powder as a Sustainable Carrier

The pods of pea (Pisum sativum L.), an abundant agroindustry by-product, represents a sustainable source of bioactive compounds. To harness these compounds effectively, this study aimed to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of polyphenols and plant pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) from pea pod waste using response surface methodology, and to evaluate the encapsulation of the resulting extract with a novel pea-based carrier derived from whole pea grain powder. The optimal conditions for the extraction were a time of 45 min, a solid-to-solvent ratio of 1:48 (w/v), and an ethanol concentration of 58.51% (v/v). The extract obtained under these conditions was encapsulated using pea grain powder and compared with a conventional whey protein carrier. The resulting microencapsulates were characterized in terms of process yield, moisture content, particle size distribution, thermal properties, and phenolic composition. Pea grain powder as a carrier provided higher powder yield, lower moisture content, and improved thermal stability, whereas whey protein allowed slightly higher retention of most bioactive compounds, except for coumaric acid and kaempferol. Overall, these findings highlight pea grain powder as a promising plant-based carrier that supports the valorization of pea pod waste, contributing to the development of sustainable ingredients and a circular economy for legume processing by-products.