HEAT PUMP DRYING OF THERMOLABILE MATERIALS (MEDICINAL PLANTS)
Drying of medicinal plant is one of the most important processing steps, scientifically defining the quality of a finished product. The object of drying were rhizomes and roots of Podophyllum emodi, being a source podophyllotoxin. Podophyllotoxin is used as starting material in the synthesis of anticancer drugs. Experimental studies on drying were conducted in the range temperatures from 40 up to 70 °С and velocity of drying air from 2 up to 5 m/s. To study the process of heat pump drying we used an experimental setup with recirculation drying agent. The obtained data will be used for further studies: selecting process parameters of heat pump drying and working out practical recommendations for application in the industry.