Commercial Microcrystalline Cellulose Research Articles

Comparative Study of Polymer Composites with Cellulose Microfibers from Different Plant Resources

Wheat stalk (W), Fosro (F), Nigalo with waxy layer (NW), and Nigalo without waxy layer (NWo) were used to extract microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), the xMCC (where x represents origin such as W, F, NW, and NWo) by thermochemical and mechanical treatments. About 10 wt% of xMCC and commercial MCC (C-MCC) were solution casted with ethylene oxide-epichlorohydrin (EO-EPI) to prepare microcomposites. The xMCC and cryo-fractured composites were observed by scanning electron microscopy, and the mechanical properties of the composites were measured by dynamic mechanical analysis to observe the effect of fillers on viscoelastic properties. The results concluded that the xMCCs are homogeneously dispersed in the EO-EPI polymer matrix, which reinforced the viscoelastic and mechanical properties in EO-EPI composites, and reinforcement is dramatically high with NWoMCC compared to NWMCC, WMCC, FMCC, and C-MCC.

Potential of cellulose from wood waste for immobilization Saccharomyces cerevisiae in bioethanol production

Bioethanol is a sustainable alternative fuel that needs further research. In this work, bioethanol production was carried out through the fermentation of an immobilized yeast cells in alginate/cellulose beads for five cycles. Cellulose was successfully isolated from wood waste and used as a filler to reinforce alginate beads. The effects of alginate/cellulose (AC) ratios (1:0, 1:1, 2:3, and 3:2) on bioethanol yield, concentration, microbial leaching, and surface matrix morphology have been investigated. Infrared analysis results revealed no lignin or lignocellulose in the isolated wood waste cellulose structure, confirming that the extracted cellulose shares the same characteristics as commercial microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The fermentation rate of alginate/cellulose beads was three times greater than that of neat alginate. The highest bioethanol concentration (increasing up to 114,5 g/L) resulted from AC 3:2 beads for five cycles. The beads can be reused effectively in fermentation for up to four cycles. The results of the microbial leaching test demonstrate that up to 95 % more yeast is effectively kept inside the matrix when a small amount of cellulose is present in the beads in all ratios. These findings indicate that the yeast is strongly interacting with the cellulose matrix, as confirmed via the scanning electron microscopy analysis.

Green preparation of cellulose nanofibers via high-pressure homogenization and their film-forming properties

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) have captured extensive recognition owing to their unparalleled properties and environmental-friendliness. Green preparation process is an important step in realizing the sustainable development of CNFs. Herein, CNFs were prepared via high-pressure homogenization using commercial microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as raw material, and subsequently employed for CNF films production by vacuum filtration. A comprehensive investigation was conducted to explore the influence of the homogenization processes on the stability, rheological characteristics of CNF suspensions, and the resultant properties of CNF films. The results showed that with the increase of homogenization pressure and cycles, the aspect ratio of CNFs increased, the dispersion stability of CNF suspensions improved, and the mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, air barrier property, and light transmittance of CNF films ascended, correspondingly. Under the homogenization pressure of 1000 bar with 15 cycles, the CNF sample exhibited an aspect ratio of 87.8 and a zeta potential of − 23.9 mV. Moreover, the CNF displayed favorable film-forming characteristics, with a tensile strength of 67 MPa, an air permeability of 4.8 µm/Pa·s, and a light transmittance of 70.2%. This work generally provides an effective and eco-friendly process for the preparation of CNFs and CNF films with high performance, which might hold great promise in biodegradable packaging application.

Microcrystalline cellulose and by-products from the pulp and paper industry as reinforcing fibres for polybutylene succinate-based composites: A comparative study

This study focussed on the development of fully biodegradable composites based on polybutylene succinate (PBS) in combination with raw materials from different processing stages of the pulp and paper industry. Sulfite pulp (SP), kraft pulp (KP) and screened sludge residue (SL) from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) were investigated as reinforcing fibres contributing to a circular economy. We report a comparative study of the physicochemical properties and mechanical performance of PBS composites reinforced with these cellulosic raw fibres and commercial pure microcrystalline cellulose (MC). The composites were characterised in tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus of elasticity, water absorption and wettability. The incorporation of the fibres into the polymer matrix was also investigated using torque rheometry. Critical concentrations were obtained with maximum incorporation in the range of 15–20 wt% for SP/KP and 25–30 wt% for SL. SP and KP composites showed at least as good physicochemical and mechanical properties as MC at the concentrations studied (0–20 wt%). SP-composites showed the highest tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. It was shown that these fibres from the pulp and paper industry can be used as reinforcement for PBS matrices without additional chemical purification and provide a valuable alternative to commercial microcrystalline cellulose.

Flowability, binding and release property of “self-lubricating” microcrystalline cellulose

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) has been widely used as an excipient in tablets. Silicified microcrystalline cellulose (SMCC) has more application than MCC by using silicon dioxide (SiO2) as a lubricant. However, findings show that the silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticle component is a physiological hazard. In our research, “self-lubricating” microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was developed by a ball-milling treatment. Commercial MCC and undried MCC with 60% or 80% moisture content were ball-milled for 12 or 24 h. After ball milling, ellipsoid-like particles, with wrinkled surfaces, and a broader particle size distribution resulted in a balance between the flowability and tabletability of the treated MCC. FTIR and XRD analysis showed that cellulose Ⅱ was formed in the undried 60% moisture content MCC after ball milling for 12 or 24 h, which improved the burst disintegration ability of the tablets. In addition, the controlled-released MCC has also been developed. AFM patterns and the angle of repose showed a cohesion phenomenon and some bridges formed between particles of undried 80% moisture content MCC ball-milled for 12 h. Without adding SiO2, our MCC gained improved binding properties, a balance between flowability and tabletability, and a more useful controlled-released ability compared with commercial MCC and SMCC.

Physical and Spectroscopic Characterization of the Microcrystalline Cellulose Derivatives from Corn Cob and Daniella Oliveri Wastes

Cellulose was extracted from wood dust waste samples of Daniella oliveri and corn cobs by acetic acid and alkaline pretreatment methods, while microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) derivative was produced by acid hydrolysis in 2 M HCl. The samples were tested for pH, moisture content, swelling capacities and ash contents. The data obtained were compared with those of commercial MCCs found in the literature. The functional groups in the microcrystalline cellulose derivatives was confirmed by the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic method with characteristic absorption bands of;–OH stretching at 3416 cm-1; C-H stretching at 2918 cm-1; -OH bending at 1377 cm-1; 1159 cm-1; and C-O-C pyranose ring skeletal vibrations at 1026-1033 cm-1. The crystallinity absorption bands appeared at 1436 and 850 cm-1. The characteristic morphological features were established by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, the crystallinity of the microcrystalline cellulose was further confirmed using the X-ray powder diffraction (X-RD) technique, which showed three main reflections at 2θ=14.70°, 22.09°, and 34.24°.These results supported that microcrystalline cellulose derivative as cellulose I type and the acid pretreatment did not affect the structure of the MCC. The crystallinity indices were 69.3 and 73.2%, respectively. Daniella Oliveri and corn cob microcrystalline cellulose are, therefore, potential materials for further processing.

Unraveling the Effect of Kraft and Organosolv Processes on the Physicochemical Properties and Thermal Stability of Cellulose and Its Microcrystals Produced from Eucalyptus Globulus

Eucalyptus Globulus (EG) is a virtually untapped forest source that belongs to the hardwood family. The objective of this research is to understand the effect of two different isolation techniques, i.e., kraft and organosolv procedures, followed by either acidified sodium chlorite or alkaline hydrogen peroxide treatment on the properties of cellulose and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) derived from EG. The MCC samples were successfully prepared from cellulose via acid hydrolysis. A comparative study was carried out on the extracted cellulose fibers and MCC samples through deep characterizations of lignocellulosic content, functional groups, crystallinity, thermal properties, and surface morphology. The detailed analyses exhibited that the prepared MCC samples using various approaches are similar to those of commercial MCC. It is revealed that the organosolv treatment followed by acidic bleaching provides the purest MCC with good thermal features, where the obtained cellulose has a glucose content of more than 97% and a degradation temperature of around 343 °C. The present work provides new insight into the effect of various extraction procedures on EG-MCC; these procedures are expected to be used in different industrial applications such as in biorefinery, dietary food, packaging, films, or reinforcement of polymer matrices.

Delignification’s effect on microcrystalline cellulose obtained from oil palm empty fruit bunch fibres

The effects of acidified chlorite (NaClO2) and totally chlorine free (TCF) bleaching were evaluated relative to the properties of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) fabricated from oil palm empty fruit bunch fibres (OPEFB). The MCC properties were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) methods, and they were compared with commercial MCC. The results revealed that all MCC belongs to cellulose type 1 and OPEFB-NaClO2-MCC showed a higher crystallinity index than OPEFB-TCF-MCC. The TGA indicated that all MCC samples showed a higher decomposition temperature compared to pure cellulose. However, OPEFB-NaClO2-MCC showed better thermal stability than OPEFB-TCF-MCC. It was clear from SEM images that the different MCC particles had rough surfaces and micro-sized particles. Overall, results confirmed that the obtained MCC samples displayed comparable properties with those of commercial MCC. The MCC produced from OPEFB using NaClO2 is a promising material to prepare high value-added products compared to MCC produced using TCF delignification treatment.

Extraction and Characterization of Microcrystalline Cellulose from Walnut, Almond and Apricot Stone Shells

Walnut, Almond and Apricot stone shells are abundantly available agro wastes worldwide and are sources of cellulose. In this study microcrystalline cellulose were isolated from these renewable biomasses through acid hydrolysis method. Isolation of microcrystalline was performed due to its potential significance in cosmetics, medicine and food industries. Acid hydrolysis is carried out at different concentrations of sulphuric acid. Surface morphology and elemental composition of microcrystalline cellulose was characterized with Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy. SEM clearly showed that microcrystalline cellulose obtained through high acid concentration has better structural similarities with commercial microcrystalline cellulose However microcrystalline cellulose obtained with low concentration of acid showed lower fibrillation. Elemental analysis revealed that amount of Sulphur impurity (1.17-1.18) is present in microcrystalline cellulose when hydrolyzed with high H2SO4 concentration while negligible (0.10-0.72) in microcrystalline cellulose treated with low concentration of H2SO4. It is also found that carbon and oxygen contents range in Walnut, almond and Apricot C; 50.89-58.73, 54.07-55.58, 54.19-55.62, O; 39.72-48.01, 43.54-43.71 and 41.75-44.34 respectively while FT-IR shows required functional groups in prepared MCC specifically representing beta 1-4 glycosidic linkage at 849 cm-1 that depicts improved cellulose content with in the sample. Thus, this work confirms that Walnut, Almond and Apricot stone are promising sources for microcrystalline cellulose.

Characterizations of Alpha-Cellulose and Microcrystalline Cellulose Isolated from Cocoa Pod Husk as a Potential Pharmaceutical Excipient.

Cellulose is a non-toxic, bio-degradable, and renewable biopolymer which is abundantly available in nature. The most common source of commercial microcrystalline cellulose is fibrous wood pulp. Cellulose and its derivatives have found wide commercial applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, paper, textile, and engineering industries. This study aims to isolate and characterize cellulose forms from cocoa pod husk (CPH) and to assess its mechanical and disintegration properties as a direct compression excipient in metronidazole tablets. Two isolated cellulose types (i.e., cocoa alpha-cellulose (CAC) and cocoa microcrystalline cellulose (C-MCC)) were compared with avicel (AV). CAC and C-MCC were characterized for their physicochemical properties using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), FTIR spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRD). Metronidazole tablets were produced by direct compression with cellulose. The mechanical and disintegration properties of the tablets were evaluated. CAC and C-MCC yield was 42.3% w/w and 38.25% w/w, respectively. Particle diameters were significantly different with CAC (282.22 μm) > C-MCC (161.32 μm) > AV (72.51 μm). CAC and C-MCC had a better flow than AV. SEM revealed the fibrous nature of the cellulose. FTIR and XRD analysis confirmed the presence of cellulose with crystallinity index of 69.26%, 43.83%, and 26.32% for AV, C-MCC, and CAC, respectively. C-MCC and AV are more crystalline and thermally stable at high temperatures compared to CAC. The mechanical and disintegration properties of C-MCC and AV tablets complied with pharmacopeia specifications. Taken together, C-MCC isolated from CPH displayed some fundamental characteristics suitable for use as a pharmaceutical excipient and displayed better properties compared to that of AV.

Valorization of Pineapple Residues from the Colombian Agroindustry to Produce Cellulose Nanofibers

Cellulose nanofiber is the world’s most advanced biomass material. Most importantly, it is biodegradable. In this work, nanofibers were obtained from pineapple leaves, a large solid waste in Colombia, using a combined extraction method (chemical procedures and ultrasound). The native fibers were bleached, hydrolyzed, treated with ultrasound, and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared analysis (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). As a comparison, a commercial microcrystalline cellulose sample was analyzed, which demonstrated the efficiency of cellulose extraction. The nanofibers had a diameter and a length of 18 nm and 237 nm, respectively, with a maximum degradation temperature of 306 °C. The analysis showed the efficiency of acid treatment combined with ultrasound to obtain nanofibers and confirmed that pineapple residues can be valorized by this method. These results indicate that lignocellulosic matrices from pineapple leaves have potential application for obtaining polymeric-type composite materials. Due to their morphology and characteristic physical properties, the cellulose nanofibers obtained in this work could be a promising material for use in a wealth of fields and applications such as filter material, high gas barrier packaging material, electronic devices, foods, medicine, construction, cosmetics, pharmacy, and health care, among others.

A new approach for the use of cellulose-rich solids from biorefinery in the formulation of gel-like materials

The increase in environmental problems and the necessity of substituting fossil fuels in the production of materials is increasing the demand for a new type of raw materials and formulation methods. This study used a cellulose-rich solid (CRS) from a biorefinery process to formulate gel-type materials, ionogels, and hydrogels. A phosphate anion ionic liquid, [Emim][DEP], was used to dissolve the CRS and formulate the ionogels. Hydrogels were formulated by submerging the ionogels in water until the ionic liquid was completely removed. Commercial microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) was used as a reference. Comparing Avicel and CRS gels, it was discovered that the CRS gives higher rheological properties to the materials. In both cases, due to the utilization of a phosphate anion ionic liquid, cellulose phosphorylation gave these materials important properties such as higher bioactivity, flame retardant, or better absorption capacities. On the other hand, the rheological properties for CRS ionogels and hydrogels are double that of Avicel, with values ranging between 103 and 104 Pa, mainly due to the presence of lignin acting as a reinforcement. It was also observed by SEM that this lignin does not affect the internal structure and morphology of the gels. This work successfully demonstrated that a new raw material, a cellulose-rich solid from biorefinery, could be a good substitute for commercial cellulose in the formulation of ionogels and hydrogels for their use in biomedical and energy fields.

The influence of ionic liquid concentration on microcrystalline cellulose modification

Ethanolic ionic liquid (IL) solutions, containing different 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C4MImCl) concentrations were used to modify the surface of commercial microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The chosen ratios were: 4, 8, 16, and 32 wt.% of IL, in relation to the MCC mass. These treatments with IL did not affect the MCC morphology. FTIR analysis showed the characteristic bands of C4MImCl when the IL concentration was higher than 4 wt.%. XRD diffractograms show that the crystals may have been disrupted for IL concentrations above 4 wt.%. 1H NMR confirmed the formation of strong hydrogen bonds between C4MImCl and MCC, especially for MCC treated with 4 wt.% of IL. The functionalization using IL, regardless of the content, showed two DTG peaks, without altering the MCC Arrhenius’ parameters and degradation mechanisms. 4 wt.% of C4MImCl proved to be suitable for the MCC surface modification, improving thermal stability without detrimental effects on MCC morphology.

Pre-treatment effect on the structure of bacterial cellulose from Nata de Coco (Acetobacter xylinum)

This paper presents a structural analysis of various methods to produce bacterial cellulose (BC) from Nata de Coco (Acetobacter xyllinum). BC sheet, BC chem and BC mech powder were successfully prepared using oven drying, chemical and mechanical treatment. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were used to analyze the structure of prepared BC. The structure of bacterial cellulose was compared with the structure of commercial microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and cotton fabric. The XRD results showed that the BC sheet sample had the highest degree of crystallinity (81.76%) compared to cotton cellulose (75.73%). The crystallite size of cotton was larger than the BC sheet, with the value of 6.83 ηm and 4.55 ηm, respectively. The peaks in the FTIR spectra of all BC were comparable to the commercial MCC and cotton fabrics. FESEM images showed that the prepared BC sheet, BC mech, and BC chem had an almost similar structure like commercial MCC and cotton fabric. It was concluded that simple preparation of BC could be implemented and used for further BC preparation as reinforcement in polymer composites, especially in food packaging.

Characterization of Thin Film PLA/PBAT Reinforced with Microcrystalline Cellulose Derived from <i>Gigantochloa albociliata</i>

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from bamboo is a natural biodegradable polymer that can be applied as barrier materials in the form of films. Bamboo contributes to 90% of the total mass of the dry weight comprised of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. In this study, Gigantochloaalbociliata (Buluh Madu) was chosen due to the fast-growing species, cheaper and abundance in Malaysia. This bamboo was undergone Kraft pulping process to get the pure cellulose and then continued with the acid hydrolysis process to produce microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). In this study, thin-film PLA/PBAT reinforced with microcrystalline cellulose derived from Gigantochloaalbociliata were produced. PLA is high in strength and ductility, but it is brittle while PBAT is elastic and strong. Therefore, PBAT is a great candidate for PLA hardness. The thin film was characterized with XRD, DSC and TGA to compare the thin film from microcrystalline cellulose derived from bamboo (B-MCC) with the commercial microcrystalline cellulose (C-MCC). The C-MCC was used as reference material. From the results, B-MCC has the same crystallinity index as C-MCC with a value of 51.3%. It can be concluded that B-MCC is can be one of the alternatives for the microcrystalline cellulose due to the abundance of bamboo as fast-growing species. Furthermore, it exists naturally, has low cost, is biodegradable, is a low-density compound, and fits best in the field of renewability.

Oil palm empty fruit bunch derived microcrystalline cellulose supported magnetic acid catalyst for esterification reaction: An optimization study

The present work demonstrates a one-step preparation of Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) based magnetic acid catalysts, using an in-situ impregnation process for the esterification of oleic acid. Commercial MCC and oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) derived MCC was used to synthesize the magnetic acid catalysts. The variation of synthesis conditions such as MCC loading, catalyst synthesis time, calcination temperature and time contributed to the development of commercial MCC supported magnetic acid catalyst (C-MCC/γ-Fe 2 O 3 ), and EFB MCC supported magnetic acid catalyst (EFB-MCC/γ-Fe 2 O 3 ). The EFB-MCC/γ-Fe 2 O 3 had a high acidity of 2.4 mmol/g under the optimized conditions: 5 g EFB-MCC loadings, 3 h catalyst synthesis time and calcination at 500°C for 3 h. The catalyst showed good ferromagnetic properties contributed by maghemite, γ-Fe 2 O 3, in the catalyst. The catalyst also exhibited a mesoporous structure with a high specific surface area of 290.55 m 2 /g, pore volume of 0.249 cm 3 /g, and pore size of 3.5 nm. This could signify the catalytic efficiency of EFB-MCC/γ-Fe 2 O 3 catalyst via esterification of oleic acid. The influence of the esterification reaction parameters on the oleic acid conversion was investigated using the Box-Behnken optimization design. The highest esterification rate of 92.1% was obtained at the optimum reaction conditions of 9 wt% catalyst loadings, 12:1 methanol-oleic acid molar ratio and reaction time of 120 min at the fixed reaction temperature 60°C. The EFB derived MCC magnetic acid catalyst displayed a good catalytic performance and rapid separation with reusability up to 5 times.

A Fabrication and modification of a microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) prepared from cotton yarn

Cotton fibers were used to prepare the microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) by hydrolysis in acidic H2SO4 medium at different concentrations and heating. The prepared MCC sample was further grafted with maleic anhydride (MA) as an eco-friendly compatibilizer. Physicochemical properties of the fabricated materials were analyzed in comparison with those of the commercial Merck MCC one. The samples were subjected to infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to confirm the purity of cellulose structure and the presence of MA grafted on MCC chains. The size distribution curve analysis showed that the MCC sample prepared under optimal conditions gave the same distribution as the commercial one, and the grafted sample gave a larger average size due to the aggregation. The X-ray spectroscopy (XRD) showed that the crystal structure was preserved through the modulation processes. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out to compare the heat resistance of the samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that the prepared samples had similar morphology with Merck’s MCC.

Effect of Cellulose Nanofibers (CNF) as Reinforcement in Polyvinyl Alcohol/CNF Biocomposite

This research was targeted to use the planetary ball milling method to extract cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) from commercial microcrystalline cellulose and also to utilize the obtained extracted cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) as reinforcement in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) thin film. The effect of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) on the mechanical and physical properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) thin films was investigated. As a result of the study, we found that the thin film’s tensile strength is good, and the surface morphology of the CNFs suspension enhances the bonding between the PVA and the reinforcement. Tyndall effect was accurate with the visible light scattering through CNF suspension, and the CNF/PVA thin film exhibited transparent thin film. In contrast, the CNF/PVA composite’s mechanical and physical properties are good due to the excellent dispersion and absence of agglomeration of CNFs. The prepared PVA/CNF biocomposite would be a suitable candidate to be implemented as biodegradable food packaging material.

PBAT Based Composites Reinforced with Microcrystalline Cellulose Obtained from Softwood Almond Shells.

This study explores the processability, mechanical, and thermal properties of biocompostable composites based on poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) as polymer matrix and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) derived from softwood almond (Prunus dulcis) shells (as-MCC) as filler at two different weight concentration, i.e., 10 wt% and 20 wt%. The materials were processed by melt mixing and a commercial MCC (c-MCC) was used as filler comparison. The fibrillar shape of as-MCC particles was found to change the rheological behavior of PBAT, particularly at the highest concentration. The melt mixing processing allowed obtaining a uniform dispersion of both kinds of fillers, slightly reducing the L/D ratio of as-MCC fibers. The as-MCC particles led to a higher increase of the elastic modulus of PBAT if compared to the c-MCC counterparts. Both the MCC fillers caused a drastic reduction of the elongation at break, although it was higher than 120% also at the highest filler concentrations. DSC analysis revealed that both MCC fillers poorly affected the matrix crystallinity, although as-MCC induced a slight PBAT crystallinity increase from 8.8% up to 10.9% for PBAT/as-MCC 20%. Therefore, this work demonstrates the great potential of MCC particles derived from almond shells as filler for biocompostable composites fabrication.

Customized price-quality microcrystalline cellulose for developing cementitious composites with improved mechanical properties

The first attempt to synergistically apply different surface treatments made it possible to use a customized price-quality commercial microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as a mineral admixture to improve the mechanical performance of a cementitious composite. The MCC was pretreated with the silane-based surface modifier tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and dispersed in an aqueous suspension using Pluronic F127 under ultrasonic energy. The improvement results were similar to those already reported in a state-of-the-art review of studies that used costly and better quality MCC, still achieving greater fracture energies. The concomitant use of TMCC + Pluronic F127 required a small amount of superplasticizer.