INVESTIGATION INTO SOME PHYSICO-TECHNICAL AND TABLETING PROPERTIES OF LOW-CRYSTALLINITY POWDERED CELLULOSE PREPARED FROM CORN RESIDUES

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the physico-technical and tableting properties of different batches of low crystallinity powdered cellulose, namely, (low-crystallinity corn cob cellulose (LCCC) and low-crystallinity corn husk cellulose (LCHC) obtained from corn residues with a commercial microcrystalline cellulose (MCCA) (Avicel® PH-101). The powdered α-cellulose powders obtained from corn cobs and corn husks respectively, using inorganic reagents were subjected to depolymerized with 85% phosphoric acid to yield LCCC and LCHC products, whose properties were compared with that of MCCA. The LCCC and LCHC materials had significantly higher bulk and tap densities and lower porosity values compared with the MCCA materials. The crushing and tensile strengths of LCCC and LCHC compacts, in general, were much lower than those of MCCA. They also disintegrated much faster than the MCCA compacts. The physico-technical and tableting properties of LCCC and LCHC materials were quite similar. In conclusion, the results suggest that the LCCC and LCHC materials reported herein have powder and tableting properties that are slightly different from the MCC materials evaluated, and show clear potential as direct compression excipients for formulation of immediate-release tablet dosage forms.