Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Phosphoric Acid-Mediated Depolymerization and Decrystallization of α-Cellulose Obtained from Corn Cob: Preparation of Low Crystallinity Cellulose and Some Physicochemical Properties

F O Ohwoavworhua , T A Adelakun

Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Raw Materials Development (PT&RMD), National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, (NIPRD), P.M.B. 21, Abuja, Nigeria;

For correspondence:- F Ohwoavworhua Email: frankohwo@yahoo.com

Published: 17 December 2005

Citation: Ohwoavworhua FO, Adelakun TA. Phosphoric Acid-Mediated Depolymerization and Decrystallization of α-Cellulose Obtained from Corn Cob: Preparation of Low Crystallinity Cellulose and Some Physicochemical Properties. Trop J Pharm Res 2005; 4(2):509-516 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v4i2.6

© 2005 The authors.
This is an Open Access article that uses a funding model which does not charge readers or their institutions for access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) and the Budapest Open Access Initiative (http://www.budapestopenaccessinitiative.org/read), which permit unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited..

Abstract

Purpose: Low crystallinity celluloses (LCC) are materials that have a substantially reduced degree of crystallinity, typically ranging between 15 and 45%. It is useful as an excipient in preparation of tablets and confectionery products. The aim of this work was to obtain from α- cellulose content of corn cob, a low crystallinity cellulose (LCC-CC), and study its physical properties as well as evaluation of its potential as tablet excipient.
Methods: α- cellulose (AC-CC) obtained from corn cob by a delignification process, was depolymerized with 85% phosphoric acid to yield LCC-CC product, whose physical properties were compared with those of AC-CC.
Results: The yield of AC-CC and LCC-CC were 14 and 11 %, respectively. The physical properties indicated a good level of purity of the cellulose materials as they conform to British Pharmacopoeia specifications. The flow indices, however, showed that these materials flowed poorly.
Conclusion: It was concluded that LCC-CC is a potential disintegrant and filler-diluent, in pharmaceutical tableting.

Keywords: Low crystallinity cellulose, ^5;-cellulose, physical properties, corn cob.