Hosseinzadeh, J;
Abdulkhani, A;
Ashori, A;
Dmirievich, PS;
Hajiahmad, A;
Abdolmaleki, H;
Sun, F;
(2024)
Sustainable Production of Microcrystalline Cellulose Through Gas Phase Hydrolysis for Pharmaceutical Applications: Characterization and Life Cycle Assessment.
Journal of Polymers and the Environment
10.1007/s10924-024-03228-2.
(In press).
![[thumbnail of ZEZ 2- Second-revised.pdf]](https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/style/images/fileicons/text.png) |
Text
ZEZ 2- Second-revised.pdf - Other Access restricted to UCL open access staff until 26 March 2025. Download (753kB) |
Abstract
Conventional microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) production via aqueous mineral acid hydrolysis is energy- and water-intensive, generating high wastewater volumes. An alternative green chemistry approach employs concentrated gaseous acids to enhance yield and conserve resources. This work aimed to develop an efficient, sustainable gas-phase hydrochloric acid (HCl)-air hydrolysis process for MCC production from cotton linters. MCC yield, structure, powder properties, tablet performance, and environmental impacts were characterized. The gas phase method successfully produced 96% MCC yield and 87% crystallinity, higher than commercial MCC (93% yield, 39% crystallinity). MCC powder exhibited 141 μm mean diameter, 0.91 m2/g surface area, and 245 °C onset decomposition. Tablet testing revealed balanced ductility and toughness. Reduced water (40 kg/kg cellulose), energy (188 MJ/kg MCC), and wastewater generation (39 kg/kg cellulose) were achieved versus conventional production. Tablet testing of MCC compacts revealed balanced ductility and toughness during compression. The HCl-air approach enabled high-yield, high-purity MCC synthesis under mild conditions while enhancing powder attributes, tablet performance, and sustainability compared to commercial manufacturing.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Sustainable Production of Microcrystalline Cellulose Through Gas Phase Hydrolysis for Pharmaceutical Applications: Characterization and Life Cycle Assessment |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10924-024-03228-2 |
| Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10924-024-03228-2 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Chemical Engineering |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10191881 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
