The effect of drying techniques on the elastoplastic properties of locally processed microcrystalline cellulose

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of three different drying techniques i.e. microwave, sun and oven drying on the physicochemical and compressional characteristics of microcrystalline cellulose obtained from sawdust, an agricultural waste product. The physicochemical properties were investigated by assessing the tapped and bulk densities, flow properties i.e. angle of repose, flow rate, compressibility index and Hausner's ratio, while the compressional properties were evaluated using both the Heckel and Kawakita equations. The results obtained showed that the values obtained for angle of repose was in the order of micro< sun< oven while the order for flow rate was the reverse of the angle of repose ratio and it was in the order; sun<oven<micro. The compressional characteristics showed that the order of P_y values i.e plastic deformation at onset of compression of the microcrystalline cellulose powder was in the order of micro<oven<sun, while the order of P_k value i.e. plastic deformation during compression was micro<sun<oven. The study concluded that microwave drying method would lead to production of microcrystalline cellulose with enhanced physicochemical and compressional properties.

Keywords: Microcrystalline Cellulose, Drying Techniques, Flow Properties, Compressional Properties.