On the way to circular economy: a systems approach towards sustainable Arctium Lappa valorization via valuable medicinal products extraction

In our work for the first time is outlined the application of a novel methodology to examine whether the roots of Arctium Lappa, commonly known as burdock, can be considered a potential feedstock for a biorefinery targeted to producing valuable medicinal products with a wide spectrum of applications. The biorefinery should implement predominantly mild, advanced green processes and techniques that will allow obtaining from the burdock roots the high value added products without damaging one or more of the extracts, particularly those that are heat sensitive. The biorefinery sustainability will be determined using life cycle and techno-economic assessment analyses. The residual biomass will be available for the production of further products of the same or potentially lower added value than the primary extracts from the roots. Via further steps, the entire mass of the plant can be used so that zero waste is possible.