Production development of microcrystalline cellulose from durian fruit hulls for industrial scale-up

Abstract

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from durian fruit hulls was produced and scale-up according to the basic process obtained from previous studies. The objectives were to effectively scale-up the production of MCC and to calculate the production costs involved. The amounts of starting raw fibers of durian fruit-hulls used in this study were 30, 300 and 3000 g. The equipment and process appropriate for the production of MCC from each batch size of raw materials were considered to be different in size but geometrically similar. Factors needed to be controlled include time and temperature for the digestion of raw fibers, mixer velocity and after-treatment end point detection concerning pH and residual chloride ion. Percent yield of MCC obtained from 30, 300 and 3000 g of raw fiber were 29.50, 32.90 and 27.40 percent, respectively. Physicochemical characterization of MCC product compared to the commercial MCC (Avicel PH101(R)) by scanning electron microscopy, laser diffraction particle size analyzer, infrared spectrophotometry, X-ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry, were found to be similar. However, commercial MCC (Avicel PH101(R)) showed slightly higher crystallinity than MCC from durian fruit-hulls. MCC produced complied with the pharmacopieal requirement stated in the USP26/NFXXI including identification, pH, loss on drying, residue on ignition and water soluble substance. The production of MCC from 3000-g scale was used as a model to calculate the cost of production, which was 2,963 baht per kilogram. However, the cost of MCC from durian fruit hulls was considered to be higher than that of Avicel PH101 due to process, equipment and facility limitations during the experiment.