Microcrystalline Cellulose Production From Sugarcane Bagasse as Sustainable Process: A Pilot Plant

This article overviews the microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) production process from sugarcane bagasse on a pilot scale and compares it with the commercial MCC. MCC is a versatile excipient used in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries due to its excellent binding, disintegrating, and bulking properties. The production of MCC involves acid hydrolysis of alpha-cellulose, washing, and post-treatment. The article describes the steps involved in the production process, including preparing raw materials, acid hydrolysis, washing, drying, and particle size reduction. In addition, the article highlights the importance of careful control of process parameters to achieve the desired properties of the MCC. The degree of polymerization, Density (bulk), Crystallinity, Particle size distribution, and Specific surface area of the MCC produced on a pilot scale are 226, 0.27, 83%, 15-200 µm, and 1.2736 m²/g, respectively. Accordingly, the produced MCC can be used in various pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic applications, making it a valuable excipient for drug formulation and other applications