Physicochemical, spectroscopic and tableting properties of microcrystalline cellulose obtained from the African breadfruit seed hulls

This study evaluates the physicochemical, tableting and spectroscopic properties of microcrystalline cellulose obtained from the African breadfruit seed hulls. The seed hulls were dried, pulverized, sieved and digested with 2% w/v aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. The resultant pulp was further treated with 17.5% w/v NaOH solution and 2.5N hydrochloric acid to produce α-cellulose and microcrystalline cellulose (BH-MCC), respectively. The prepared BH-MCC was characterized by studying their functional groups (using FT-IR), thermal stability using (TGA) and crystallinity index using (XRD). The results showed the composition of cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin contents of the seed hulls were 39, 38 and 17%, respectively. The percentage yields of the isolated α-cellulose and BH-MCC were 15.5 and 86.8%, respectively. The bulk, tapped and true densities were 0.33, 0.50 and 1.57 g/ml, respectively. Moisture content, angle of repose and swelling index were 5.3%, 28° and 29%, respectively. Tablets were produced by direct compression using BH-MCC and their analyses showed that the weight uniformity, hardness test, friability and disintegration time values were 190.3±4.2%, 4.95±0.83 kg/cm2, 0.04% and 31 s, respectively. The BH-MCC’s tablets showed good compliance with the British Pharmacopeia (BP) specification, and can thus be considered useful as a binder and disintegrant in drug formulation.   Key words: Microcrystalline cellulose, African breadfruit seed hull, physicochemical, tableting, composition.