Sustainable Production and Characterization of Eumelanin from Organically Cultivated <i>Mucuna ceniza</i> Seeds: A High-Performance Biomaterial for Optoelectronic Applications.

ABSTRACT: Natural melanins represent an emerging class of bio-based materials with exceptional properties for advanced technological applications. This study presents a comprehensive analytical characterization of eumelanin produced from organically cultivated Mucuna ceniza seeds through sustainable biotechnological processes. A high-quality L-DOPA extract containing 56% w/w L-DOPA was first obtained using green extraction protocols with organic acids, followed by lyophilization. Then, optimized stirred-tank bioreactor conditions achieved remarkable melanin production rates of 1526.23 ± 10.78 mg L^-1 h^-1 with complete L-DOPA conversion, yielding 9.5 g/L of purified eumelanin. Spectroscopic characterization using UV-visible, FTIR, Raman, and NMR spectroscopy

SUBMITTER: Herrera-Herrera PA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12608612 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature