USE OF POWDERED CELLULOSE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PELLETS BY EXTRUSION SPHERONIZATION

The use of powdered cellulose instead of microcrystalline cellulose in the extrusion/spheronization process was investigated. The aim of the study was to assess differences between two types of powdered cellulo se using a 2(4-1) fractional factorial design. Water content and amoun t of binder were found to be most important while type of cellulose an d screw speed had only negligible influence on the extrusion process a nd the resulting pellets. Pellets obtained with powdered celluloses sh owed higher porosities and faster dissolution rates compared with thos e made with microcrystalline cellulose. Image analysis was found to be an appropriate method for the simultaneous characterization of pellet size and shape.