## 1 Introduction  
Renewable biomass is currently presented as a sustainable alternative and a positive option in the face of environmental challenges. Its benefits include the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and climate change mitigation [1]. Within lignocellulosicbiomass are various types of agricultural waste, such as fibers, wood residues, energy crops, short-rotation crops, forestry waste, and paper residues [2; 3; 4].  
Lignocellulosic materials contain varying proportions of cellulose (30-50%), hemicellulose (15-35%), and lignin (10-30%) [5]. These polymers can be subjected to hydrolysis pretreatments to obtain sugars that can be converted into bioethanol by microbial fermentation [6]. Chemical pretreatments with acids such as sulfuric, hydrochloric, nitric, phosphoric, and acetic acids are the most common [7]. In this process, the acid medium mainly decomposes hemicellulose because it is easier to hydrolyze compared to cellulose [8]. However, the resulting lignocellulosic residues still limit the complete conversion of carbohydrates into sugar monomers [9]. For this reason, a cocktail of degrading enzymes, such as cellulases and hemicellulases, that act synergistically is required to achieve complete cellulose degradation [10].  
The _genus Prosopis_, known as mesquite, is considered one of the most valuable woody resources [11]. In Mexico, its distribution covers more than 3.5 million hectares, harboring a wide variety of native species [12]. As a non-timber product, mesquite produces a fruit known as pods, mainly used as feed for livestock. In human consumption, the pods are processed into flour or used in the preparation of fermented beverages [12]. Currently, this legume stands out for its ability to generate a unique flour, rich in protein and with a remarkable sweetening power [13].  
Structurally, mesquite pods can be mechanically fragmented to obtain the exocarp (outer layer), mesocarp (spongy part), and endocarp (hard inner layer which protects the seed) [14]. The latter structure, which is solid, fibrous, and indehiscent, presents variations in thickness according to seed dimensions [15] and is mainly formed by cellulosic polysaccharides (40%) and lignin (17%) in _P. glandulosa_[16]. In addition, the endocarp contains closed segments or septa between the seeds, giving it a compact appearance [17].  
When subjected to different treatments, mathematical and statistical techniques can be used to determine the best conditions for reducing sugars. One of these techniques is response surface methodology (RSM), which is used to model and analyze problems in which the variable of interest is influenced by others. On the other hand, the artificial neural network (ANN) model has also been used recently. It helps process information that is difficult to explain with traditional math models; moreover, it can handle missed values and mistakes well [18].  
In the literature, there are research works related to modeling the production of biofuels, but there are no reports related to modeling the obtainment of total reducing sugar from mesquite (_Prosopis laevigata_). A performance comparison between RSM and ANNs was carried out in [19], where bioethanol was produced from pumpkin waste. The ANN showed a better fit to the data gathered from experiments. In another research paper, the yield of fermentable sugar from _Cloocynthia vulgaris_ Shrad seeds shell was predicted using ANN, RSM, and an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system [20].  
Moreover, ANNs have been applied to the process modeling of the pretreatment, thermal processing, and enzymatic processing of lignocellulosic biomass [21]. RSM and ANN were applied for modeling the process of the induction-assisted in situ nanoparticle synthesis of cocoa pod shells to yield fermentable sugars for biofuel production [22].  
Therefore, the aim of this work is related to the comparison of both models in the representation of chemical hydrolysis for obtaining TRS.