Compaction properties of microcrystalline cellulose using tableting indices

The compaction properties of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from 6 different sources were investigated and compared using tableting indices. The 50-mu m and 100-mu m grades were studied in order to determine lot-to-lot variability within a source, variability between sources, and the influence of storage conditions on the compaction properties of MCC. Two lots of each grade of MCC were obtained from each source and tested as received. It was found that the Avicel and Emcocel products demonstrated the most similarities based on tableting indices. Significant lot-to-lot differences in the tableting indices were observed for Fibrocel, Omnicel, and Spectrum MCC products. The brittle fracture index was low for all products tested and not significant. Storage of compacts at elevated humidity conditions prior to determining the tableting indices decreased the magnitude of the tensile strength, dynamic indentation hardness, and bonding index. Particle size analysis revealed differences between the labeled mean particle size and the experimentally determined value for some of the MCC grades and sources investigated. The percent weight gain of MCC powder at 18 hr was less than 0.6% at 30% relative humidity, and ranged from about 0.75% to 1.46% at 51% and 75% relative humidities. The x-ray diffraction patterns were similar for the MCC grades and sources investigated. MCC products from different sources are not directly substitutable based on the differences in physicomechanical properties observed for the tableting indices.