EXTRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PHARMACEUTICAL GRADE MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE FROM RAPHIA FARINIFERA INFLORESCENCE
Authors: Agboeze Emmanuel , Theresa O Uchechukwu , Ogbobe Okoro 
Published: September 2022

Background and objective: Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is a multifunctional polymer frequently used in the biomedical, food, and chemical industries. Raphia Farinifera Inflorescence (RFi), used to make palm wine in many parts of Africa, is frequently discarded as waste. The current study examines the extraction and characterization of pharmaceutical-grade MCC from RFi (RFi-MCC).
Method: Extraction was achieved by first defatting before sequentially treating RFi with alkali, dilute sulfuric acid (acid hydrolysis), and bleaching (H2O2).The RFi-MCC powder properties such as the True density, tapped density, bulk density, angle of repose and hydration capacity were observed.
Results: Microcrystalline cellulose showed distinctive peaks in the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The scanning electron microscopy with Energy disperse spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) showed the variation in the elements, morphology of the fibers and the formation of RFi-MCC of approximately 100 µm. According to a thermogravimetric, BET and X-ray diffraction study, RFi-MCC degrades at 286°C, surface area of 1797.39 m2/g and 336°, and exhibit crystallinity index of 0.67 % respectively.
Conclusion: The findings show that the RFi fibers would be a valuable source of microcrystalline cellulose for utilization in the pharmaceutical, papermaking, and binder industries due to their powder characteristics, compressibility, and excellent swelling.

Peer Review History:
Received: 8 July 2022; Revised: 4 August; Accepted: 2 September, Available online: 15 September 2022
Academic Editor: Dr. Tamer Elhabibi, Suez Canal University, Egypt, tamer_hassan@pharm.suez.edu.eg
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Received file: Reviewer's Comments:
Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10
Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10
Reviewers:
Dr. George Zhu, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, sansan4240732@163.com
Ahmad Najib, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Makassar, Indonesia, ahmad.najib@umi.ac.id
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