EXTRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PHARMACEUTICAL GRADE MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE FROM RAPHIA FARINIFERA INFLORESCENCE

Emmanuel Agboeze; Uchechukwu Theresa O; Okoro Ogbobe

doi:10.22270/ujpr.v7i4.816

Emmanuel Agboeze Department of Industrial Chemistry, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria.
Uchechukwu Theresa O Department of Chemistry, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Nigeria.
Okoro Ogbobe Department of Industrial Chemistry, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria.

10.22270/ujpr.v7i4.816

Keywords:

biodegradable resources, biowaste utilization, microcrystalline cellulose, pharmaceutical grade cellulose, Raphia Farinifera Inflorescence

Abstract

Background and objective: Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is a multifunctional polymer frequently used in the biomedical, food, and chemical industries. Raphia Farinifera Inflorescence (RFi), used to make palm wine in many parts of Africa, is frequently discarded as waste. The current study examines the extraction and characterization of pharmaceutical-grade MCC from RFi (RFi-MCC).

Method: Extraction was achieved by first defatting before sequentially treating RFi with alkali, dilute sulfuric acid (acid hydrolysis), and bleaching (H₂O₂).The RFi-MCC powder properties such as the True density, tapped density, bulk density, angle of repose and hydration capacity were observed.

Results: Microcrystalline cellulose showed distinctive peaks in the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The scanning electron microscopy with Energy disperse spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) showed the variation in the elements, morphology of the fibers and the formation of RFi-MCC of approximately 100 µm. According to a thermogravimetric, BET and X-ray diffraction study, RFi-MCC degrades at 286°C, surface area of 1797.39 m²/g and 336°, and exhibit crystallinity index of 0.67 % respectively.

Conclusion: The findings show that the RFi fibers would be a valuable source of microcrystalline cellulose for utilization in the pharmaceutical, papermaking, and binder industries due to their powder characteristics, compressibility, and excellent swelling.