Microcrystalline cellulose is a term for refined wood pulp and is used as a texturizer, an anti-caking agent, a fat substitute, an emulsifier, an extender, and a bulking agent in food production.The most common form is used in vitamin supplements or tablets. It is also used in plaque assays for counting viruses, as an alternative to carboxymethylcellulose.In many ways, cellulose makes the ideal excipient. A naturally occurring polymer, it is composed of glucose units connected by a 1-4 beta glycosidic bond. These linear cellulose chains are bundled together as microfibril spiralled together in the walls of plant cell. Each microfibril exhibits a high degree of three-dimensional internal bonding resulting in a crystalline structure that is insoluble in water and resistant to reagents. There are, however, relatively weak segments of the microfibril with weaker internal bonding. These are called amorphous regions but are more accurately called dislocations since microfibril containing single-phase structure. The crystalline region is isolated to produce microcrystalline cellulose.
| ITEM | STANDARD |
| Appearance | A fine white or almost white odorless powder |
| Particle size | 98% pass 120 mesh |
| Assay (as α- cellulose, dry basis) | ≥97% |
| Water-soluble matter | ≤ 0.24% |
| Sulphated ash | ≤ 0.5% |
| pH (10% solution) | 5.0- 7.5 |
| Loss on drying | ≤ 7% |
| Starch | Negative |
| Carboxyl groups | ≤ 1% |
| Lead | ≤ 5 mg/ kg |
| Arsenic | ≤ 3 mg/ kg |
| Mercury | ≤ 1 mg/ kg |
| Cadmium | ≤ 1 mg/ kg |
| Heavy metals (as Pb) | ≤ 10 mg/ kg |
| Total plate count | ≤ 1000 cfu/g |
| Yeast and mould | ≤ 100 cfu/g |
| E. coli/ 5g | Negative |
| Salmonella/ 10g | Negative |