Preparation and Characterization of Microcrystalline Cellulose from Tea waste and its Evaluation as a Direct Compression excipient in Paracetamol tablet formulation
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Date
2025-12-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Lignocellulosic biomass is an abundant and renewable resource derived from plants, mainly
composed of lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose. Cellulose has long chains of β-D-glucopyranose
units joined by β-1,4-glycosidic linkages. Therefore, this research explores the valorization of tea
waste (TW), a plentiful agricultural byproduct in Ethiopia, as a sustainable raw material for
producing microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). Few studies have evaluated tea waste as a source of
cellulose. Therefore, this study aimed to prepare and characterize microcrystalline cellulose from
TW. The study involved extracting cellulose from Tea leaf waste (TLW) and Tea fiber waste (TFW)
through a sequence of chemical treatments, including alkaline processing and bleaching. The
isolated cellulose was then converted to MCC via acid hydrolysis. The hydrolysis conditions,
including temperature and time of hydrolysis, were systematically optimized using a CCD, with the
highest yield of 86.79% achieved at 100°C for 30 minutes with a 2.5 M HCl concentration.
The resulting MCC powders were thoroughly characterized and compared to a commercial standard
(Avicel PH-101). Analytical techniques, including XRD, FTIR, SEM, and thermal analysis,
confirmed the successful production of MCC from both TW sources. The samples exhibited the
characteristic chemical structure of cellulose, with crystallinity indices ranging from 62.48% to
70%, and morphological changes indicative of successful hydrolysis. Furthermore, key
physicochemical and powder flow properties, such as pH, moisture content, bulk density, and angle
of repose, were evaluated and found to comply with pharmacopeial standards, demonstrating their
suitability as pharmaceutical excipients. The practical application of the TW-derived MCC was
evaluated by formulating paracetamol tablets via direct compression. The tablets produced (F1 with
TLW-MCC and F2 with TFW-MCC) were compared against tablets containing Avicel PH-101 (F3)
and a commercial reference product. All formulated tablets met the required BP standards for
weight variation, hardness, friability, and disintegration time. Crucially, dissolution testing revealed
rapid drug release, with over 85% of the paracetamol dissolved within 10 minutes, and assay results
confirmed uniform drug content within the acceptable range of 90-110%. In conclusion, MCC with
excellent tableting properties was successfully isolated from tea waste, establishing it as an
effective, sustainable, and locally relevant excipient for the pharmaceutical industry.
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Keywords
Tea waste, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Direct compressible excipient, Characterization, Formulation, Paracetamol tablets