Evaluation of a New Cellulose Material as Binding Agent for Direct Compression of Tablets

The properties of a new microcrystalline cellulose product Emcocel^R, was compared with those of fine grade of other commercial microcrystalline cellulose, Avicel^R PH 101. The crystal structure of Avicel was noticed to be some more amorphous than that of Emcocel. Both materials were similarly composed of irregularly shaped fibrous cellulose particles. The particle size distribution was clearly larger for Emcocel than for Avicel. Emcocel contained more both very small and very large particles. The loose density was also slightly smaller for Emcocel. There was practically no difference in spesific: surface area, water content and effective density of these materials. The behaviour of both microcrystalline cellulose powders during flow and binding processes was similar. Emcocel and Emcocel were rather cohesive and only fairly flowing materials. Tablets with very advantageous strength/pressure profiles were possible to produce using plain materials and also using tablet masses containing high concentrations of acetaminophenone. According to the results of this evaluation the physical and tableting properties of a new microcrystalline cellulose material, Emcocel, resemble very closely those of Avicel PH 101. Thus neither advantage nor disadvantage is derived using Emcocel instead of Avicel PH 101 as a binding component in tablet masses.