Modern technologies of drying medicinal plants

Abstract

Relevance: drying is the main method of food preservation. During the drying process, moisture is removed from food products, which controls the growth of various microorganisms, as well as limiting metabolic changes and ensuring a longer shelf life without deterioration of quality. Sun and shade drying are the most commonly used drying techniques and are very economical, but mechanical drying techniques have several advantages at the commercial level. Each drying technique has its own characteristics and maintaining the maximum quality depends on the nature of the dried materials. Medicinal and aromatic plants are known for their unique bioactive compounds and the demand for plant-based medicines is increasing exponentially worldwide.

Aim:  sun-drying techniques have been used for centuries in various cultures to preserve fruits, vegetables, and even meat, ensuring a stable food supply in times of plenty for consumption in times of scarcity. Drying, also known as dehydration, is the process of removing water from solid or liquid food materials by evaporation. The main goal is to obtain a solid product with a significantly reduced moisture content. Drying is the main and main post-harvest storage method for medicinal plants due to its ability to preserve the medicinal properties of the plant material. The article analyzes modern technologies for drying medicinal plants.

Methods: drying is a significant part (30-50%) of the total cost of medicinal plants production. It is very important to determine the factors that lead to high costs in the drying conditions of medicinal and aromatic plants. The energy requirement for drying is a significant cost factor, especially with increasing fossil fuel prices, mainly due to the high moisture content of the plant material.

Results: in order to optimize the drying process and ensure a high-quality dry product, an analysis of hybrid dryers using 80% solar heat and low-enthalpy aero-geothermal energy and 20% electric power was carried out. The dimensions of each component of the work dryer were studied, appropriate approaches for their implementation were proposed.