Method for producing low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose (L-HPC) result in insufficient disintegratability when used in wet granulation tableting methods, despite maintaining sufficient compactibility.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of a screw press to remove liquid from crude L-HPC to achieve a water content of 50 to 60% by mass, followed by drying and pulverizing, with specific conditions for the screw press such as temperature and rotation speed, to enhance swelling force and disintegratability while preserving compactibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If L-HPC is produced by etherifying alkali cellulose and dispersing in aqueous acid solution as per conventional method, then compactibility is sufficient, but disintegratability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedisintegratabilityVSAvoidcompactibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the water content parameter of L-HPC from conventional levels to specifically 50-60% by mass through controlled liquid removal using a screw press. This parameter change enables the L-HPC to exhibit both good disintegratability and compactibility, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces conventional drying methods with a screw press mechanical system to remove liquid from crude L-HPC. This mechanical approach allows precise control of water content to 50-60% by mass, achieving the desired balance between disintegratability and compactibility that cannot be obtained by traditional drying alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If L-HPC water content is reduced to enhance disintegratability, then swelling force improves, but powder physical properties and compactibility may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedisintegratabilityVSAvoidpowder physical properties
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the water content parameter to a specific range of 50-60% by mass. This controlled parameter change enhances swelling force and disintegratability while maintaining stable powder physical properties and compactibility, avoiding the adverse effects of excessive water removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The produced L-HPC exhibits improved disintegratability and compactibility, allowing for rapid drug release and effective tablet formation.

Implementation Method 1

using a screw press to remove liquid from the crude low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical compression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

using a screw press to remove liquid from the crude low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose to obtain purified low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose having a water content of 50 to 60% by mass

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

reacting the alkali cellulose with propylene oxide to obtain a reaction product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEtherification: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 4

dispersing the reaction product into a solution containing at least an acid to partially solubilize the reaction product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Implementation Method 5

neutralizing the reaction product with an additional amount of the acid to precipitate crude low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPrecipitation: Precipitation

Implementation Method 6

drying and pulverizing the purified

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP4653471A1Method for producing low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 SHIN ETSU CHEMICAL CO LTD
  • EP4653471A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4653471A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4653471A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a method for producing low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose having favorable disintegratability while maintaining sufficient compactibility. The method essentially includes the steps of: bringing an alkali metal hydroxide solution into contact with a pulp to prepare alkali cellulose; reacting the alkali cellulose with propylene oxide to obtain a reaction product; dispersing the reaction product into a solution containing at least an acid to partially solubilize the reaction product, and then neutralizing the reaction product with an additional amount of acid to precipitate crude low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose; using a screw press to remove liquid from the crude low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose to obtain purified low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose having a water content of 50 to 60% by mass; and drying and pulverizing the purified low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, wherein the method produces low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose having a hydroxypropoxy group content of 5.0 to 16.0% by mass.