%0 Journal Article
%T Physicotechnical, spectroscopic and thermogravimetric properties of powdered cellulose and microcrystalline cellulose derived from groundnut shells
%A Chukwuemeka P. Azubuike
%A Jimson O. Odulaja
%A Augustine O. Okhamafe
%J Journal of Excipients and Food Chemicals
%D 2012
%I 
%X ¦Á-Cellulose and microcrystalline cellulose powders, derived from agricultural waste products, that have for thepharmaceutical industry, desirable physical (flow) properties were investigated. ¦Á¨CCellulose (GCN) wasextracted from groundnut shell (an agricultural waste product) using a non-dissolving method based oninorganic reagents. Modification of this ¦Á -cellulose was carried out by partially hydrolysing it with 2Nhydrochloric acid under reflux to obtain microcrystalline cellulose (MCGN). The physical, spectroscopic andthermal properties of the derived ¦Á-cellulose and microcrystalline cellulose powders were compared withAvicel  PH 101, a commercial brand of microcrystalline cellulose (MCCA), using standard methods. X-raydiffraction and infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that the ¦Á-cellulose had lower crystallinity. Thissuggested that treatment with 2N hydrochloric acid led to an increase in the crystallinity index.Thermogravimetric analysis showed quite similar thermal behavior for all cellulose samples, although the ¦Á-cellulose had a somewhat lower stability. A comparison of the physical properties between themicrocrystalline celluloses and the ¦Á-cellulose suggests that microcrystalline cellulose (MCGN and MCCA)might have better flow properties. In almost all cases, MCGN and MCCA had similar characteristics. Sincegroundnut shells are agricultural waste products, its utilization as a source of microcrystalline cellulose mightbe a good low-cost alternative to the more expensive commercial brand.
%K Agricultural residue
%K groundnut shell
%K microcrystalline cellulose
%K physicotechnical properties
%K thermal properties
%U http://ojs.abo.fi/index.php/jefc/article/view/149/160