(536c) Effects of Particle Size, Shape and Moisture Content on the Flowability of Microcrystalline Cellulose Powder

Powders are encountered across multiple industries such as agricultural, cosmetics, food, mining, and pharmaceuticals. An important factor in the manufacturing process of pharmaceuticals is the flowability of powders to ensure uniformity in the feed out of hoppers and into tablets so that a consistent drug content can be maintained. Therefore, it is necessary to control and optimize factors affecting the flow of materials for efficient processing. The primary parameters that affect the flow of a powder include particle size, particle size distribution (PSD), particle shape, and moisture content. This work focuses on investigating the effects of particle size, moisture content, and particle shape on the flowability of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), a common pharmaceutical excipient, using the FT4 Powder Rheometer. The study included particle sizes between 10 – 150 microns and moisture levels from 0 – 50% by weight. Using particle size and shape measurements from the Malvern Morphologi G3 particle analyzer, particle size, shape, and moisture content were correlated with the FT4 flowability results. This is the first study, to our knowledge, to quantify the effects of particle shape, size, and moisture content on the flowability of powders.