Analytical Pyrolysis for Valorization of Herbal Pharmaceutical Industry Wastes Excluding Necessity of Preparative Isolation of their Components

The work is devoted to the comprehensive comparative analysis of extraction cakes, obtained after isolation of pharmaceuticals from medical herbs (Aconítum leucostómum, Thermopsis alterniflora, Glycyrrhiza Glabra and Vinca erecta) to characterize their composition and structural features of components, that is necessary for following valorization and for evaluation of extraction efficiency. Application of analytical pyrolysis to analysis of the medical herbs’ residues allowed to avoid disadvantages, connected with preparative isolation of components and get integral information about phytomass constituents and their transformation during extraction. The results have shown that aconite and licorice roots extraction cakes can be considered as perspective raw material for the chemical and biological processing for obtaining of carbohydrates-based products, whereas the periwinkle grass waste is perspective source for obtaining of aromatic and phenolic products. The data of the analytical pyrolysis indicate the сompleteness of biologically active compounds extraction from licorice roots. Extraction cakes of aconite, thermopsis and periwinkle grasses contained different amounts of unextracted targeted pharmaceutical compounds, which can increase their value.