European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

STUDIES ON MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE OBTAINED FROM SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM 1: PROCESSING AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Nwachukwu Nkemakolam and Ugoeze Kenneth Chinedu*

ABSTRACT

This work was aimed at the derivatization of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from Saccharum officinarum stem and its characterization based on its physicochemical properties. Alpha (α) cellulose obtained from different sodium hydroxide and bleaching treatments of dried shred S. officinarum stem pulp chips/sponges were hydrolyzed with 2.5 N hydrochloric acid (2.5 N HCl) to obtain MCC which was coded MCC-Sacc. This was compared with a commercial brand, Avicel PH 102. The yield of MCC-Sacc was 12 % w/w of the dried S.officinarum. Organoleptic test results show a rough, white, tasteless, odorless crystalline powder that is insoluble in water and dilute mineral acids. Some physicochemical test results of MCC-Sacc show a pH of 6.00 ± 0.19, swelling index of 146 ± 0.01 %, moisture content of 6.33 ± 0.05 and total ash content of 1.55%. The powder morphology as seen in the scanning electron micrograph shows the material to be similar to Avicel PH 102. The mean particle size was 7.7 ± 12.5 μm while the degree of polymerization (DP) was 228.56 and DP of < 400 is associated with MCC. These parameters are characteristic of MCC as indicated in the British Pharmacopoeia. These values of MCC-Sacc compared favorably with the commercial brand, Avicel PH 102.

Keywords: Microcrystalline cellulose, Saccharum officinarum, processing, physicochemical, Avicel PH 102.