Sugarcane Bagasse as the Source of Nanocrystalline Cellulose for Gelatin-Free Capsule Shell
Abstrak
Gelatin-free capsules are possibly produced through an innovation which involves utilizing environmentally friendly materials
derived from plants such as bagasse which are produced into nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC). )is research was conducted to
report the extraction and characterization of NCC from the abundant industrial plantation waste of sugarcane and its application
as the base material for gelatin-free capsule shell material. )e process involved using different concentrations of NCC at 1%, 2%,
4%, and 7% (in wt. %) with the addition of 1% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) (in wt. %) and 1% carbopol (in wt. %).
Moreover, the NCC capsules obtained from sugarcane bagasse were tested for moisture content, tensile strength, elongation,
solubility, and pH. )e results showed that sugarcane bagasse contains 40–50% cellulose, 6.15%–9.5% moisture content which
indicates they are potentially better in terms of storage, 7.25–7.85 pH, and 0.05–0.136 MPa gel strength, and the elongation value
ranges from 7.19 to 87.51%. )ese values were discovered to have satisfied the standard requirements as indicated by the optimal
concentration of 4% NCC +1% HPMC, which is in line with the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS), thereby leading to the
consideration of the material safe to be used as raw material in making capsule shells.
derived from plants such as bagasse which are produced into nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC). )is research was conducted to
report the extraction and characterization of NCC from the abundant industrial plantation waste of sugarcane and its application
as the base material for gelatin-free capsule shell material. )e process involved using different concentrations of NCC at 1%, 2%,
4%, and 7% (in wt. %) with the addition of 1% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) (in wt. %) and 1% carbopol (in wt. %).
Moreover, the NCC capsules obtained from sugarcane bagasse were tested for moisture content, tensile strength, elongation,
solubility, and pH. )e results showed that sugarcane bagasse contains 40–50% cellulose, 6.15%–9.5% moisture content which
indicates they are potentially better in terms of storage, 7.25–7.85 pH, and 0.05–0.136 MPa gel strength, and the elongation value
ranges from 7.19 to 87.51%. )ese values were discovered to have satisfied the standard requirements as indicated by the optimal
concentration of 4% NCC +1% HPMC, which is in line with the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS), thereby leading to the
consideration of the material safe to be used as raw material in making capsule shells.