Microcrystalline Cellulose Particles Research Articles

Effect of microcrystalline cellulose on mechanical properties of flax-jute-epoxy hybrid composite materials using vacuum bagging

Nowadays, synthetic fibres are replaced with hybrid composite fibres which consist of low energy production, biodegradability, resource renewability, less hazardous and easy handling of manufactured composites. The present work focuses on the effect of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) particles by varying the percentage concentration (0 wt %, 2 wt % and 4 wt %) in the flax-jute-epoxy composite materials. The MCC particle is mixed with epoxy resin as matrix material and flax-jute fibres as reinforcements in the composite panels fabricated using the vacuum bagging method. The tensile, flexural, impact, hardness and thermogravimetric tests were performed on the fabricated composite panels per the ASTM standard. The experimental results show that with the addition of 2 wt % MCC particle, sample 2 has higher tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength than sample 1 (0 wt % MCC) and sample 3 (4 wt % MCC). It can be noted that due to the addition of MCC particles, overall mechanical properties improved as a result of good interfacial bonding between matrix and fibres which are evident through SEM analysis. Similarly, thermal stability of the composites also improved in the flax-jute hybrid fibre composites particularly in 2 wt % MCC.

Composite biofilm chitosan-microcrystalline cellulose for tomato preservation

The demand for packaging has caused a surge in non-biodegradable plastic waste. To tackle this issue, biofilms provide a safe and effective alternative for packaging and preservation. This research focused on combining chitosan and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) to produce composite biofilms to preserve fresh fruits. The study involved adding varying quantities of MCC, ranging from 0g to 11g, to chitosan using a glycerol plasticizer. The results showed that adding MCC reduced the adhesion of the chitosan-based film, resulting in a more intact film. The surface morphology of the film showed uniform dispersion of MCC particles. The water adsorption and solubility of the MCC-added films increased while biodegradability decreased. The best biofilm for preservation application was the chitosan film supplemented with 3g of MCC. This film helped limit weight loss, vitamin C content, total acid content, and soluble solids loss in tomatoes during storage. Essentially, the chitosan-MCC film helped to reduce water evaporation, respiration, metabolism with the external environment, and penetration of microorganisms on tomatoes, thus extending their shelf life.

Pengembangan Acetylated Cellulose Nanofibers dari Microcrystalline Cellulose: Studi Perubahan Gugus Fungsi dan Indeks Kristalinitas melalui Asetilasi dan Nanofibrilasi

Cellulose nanofiber (CNF) has promising potential as a reinforcement in polymer matrix nanocomposites. CNF is polar or hydrophilic due to having many hydroxyl groups. When CNF particles are combined with a non-polar polymer matrix, the CNF is difficult to distribute evenly and tends to agglomerate due to differences in polarity so that the strengthening effect of CNF is limited. To overcome this problem, it is necessary to chemically modify the CNF surface. Acetylation is one of the most widely used CNF surface modification methods to increase the compatibility between a non-polar polymer matrix and CNF. Through the acetylation process, some of the hydroxyl groups of CNF are replaced with acetyl groups which are hydrophobic. Furthermore, the CNF resulting from the acetylation process is known as acetylated CNF (acetylated cellulose nanofibers or ACNF). The acetylation process is carried out by first mixing microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) particles into 75 mL of acetic anhydride solution. Next, the mixture was stirred using a high-speed blender for 30 minutes for the MCC nanofibrillation process to occur. In this research, the influence of acetylation and nanofibrillation processes on the characteristics of ACNF was studied through studying chemical structure changes using ATR-FTIR and crystallinity index using XRD. The results of the ATR-FTIR analysis show that there are 3 new peaks in the ACNF spectrum, namely at 1720, 1369 and 1203 cm-1, which proves that there is a change in the structure of cellulose after being given acetylation treatment. The results of XRD show that surface treatment of acetylation and nanofibrillation with a high-speed blender increases the ACNF crystallinity index value by 82.53%. Overall, the resulting ACNF has great potential as a reinforcement for polymer matrix nanocomposites.

Clinical Assessment of Plaque Removal Using a Novel Dentifrice Containing Cellulose Microfibrils.

Dentifrice performance in the removal of dental plaque is influenced by the interactions of dentifrice components with tooth surfaces. This randomized controlled clinical study assessed the effectiveness and safety of a novel fluoride dentifrice formulation that included a micro-fibrillated cellulose network with entangled microcrystalline cellulose and silica particles (ProtegeraTM), and compared this to a positive control fluoride dentifrice (Crest Cavity Protection™). Whole mouth dental plaque levels in 82 healthy adults were measured after the first supervised use, and following a week of twice daily use at home. Overall, the test dentifrice was at least three times and up to four times more effective in whole-mouth plaque reductions, with a 38.6% reduction on first use, a 30.9% reduction at day 7, and a 41.6% reduction from day 1 to day 7, compared to reductions of 12.0%, 9.6% and 11.6%, respectively for the positive control, and up to seven times more effective in lingual plaque reductions, than the reference dentifrice (p < 0.001), with a 27.7% reduction on first use, a 22.3% reduction at day 7, and a 31.0% reduction from day 1 to day 7, compared to reductions of 4.4%, 2.2%, and 4.5%, respectively, for the positive control. No safety issues arose from the use of the test dentifrice. These results indicate that including micro-fibrillated cellulose enhances plaque removal effectiveness, without causing adverse changes to oral soft tissues.

Exopolysaccharide from marine microalgae belonging to the Glossomastix genus: fragile gel behavior and suspension stability

ABSTRACT With the aim to find new polysaccharides of rheological interest with innovated properties, rhamnofucans produced as exopolysaccharides (EPS) in a photobioreactor (PBR) and an airlift bioreactor (ABR) by the marine microalgae Glossomastix sp. RCC3707 and RCC3688 were fully studied. Chemical characterizations have been conducted (UHPLC – MS HR). Analyses by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled online with a multiangle light scattering detector (MALS) and a differential refractive index detector showed the presence of large structures with molar masses higher than 106 g.mol−1. The rheological studies of these EPS solutions, conducted at different concentrations and salinities, have evidenced interesting and rare behavior characteristic of weak and fragile hydrogels i.e. gel behavior with very low elastic moduli (between 10−2 and 10 Pa) and yield stresses (between 10−2 and 2 Pa) according to the EPS source, concentration, and salinity. These results were confirmed by diffusing wave spectroscopy. Finally, as one of potential application, solutions of EPS from Glossomastix sp. have evidenced very good properties as anti-settling stabilizers, using microcrystalline cellulose particles as model, studied by multiple light scattering (MLS) with utilization in cosmetic or food industry. Compared to alginate solution with same viscosity for which sedimentation is observed over few hours, microalgae EPS leads to a stable suspension over few days.

Influence of the Microcrystalline Cellulose Dispersion Method on the Structure and Properties of Rigid Polyurethane Foam Composites

Abstract This paper investigates the reinforcement of rigid polyurethane foams with microcrystalline cellulose to improve their mechanical and thermal properties. In this work, microcrystalline cellulose was added to polyol and was dispersed using two methods: calendering and ultrasounds. As a result of the study, it was found that the addition of micro cellulose to the polyol mixture used for the synthesis of polyurethane foam changes the properties of the final product. A crucial aspect is how it is added to the mixture. When adding microcrystalline cellulose particles, better results were obtained for particles dispersed using ultrasound. The most beneficial changes were obtained for the sample with 2php cellulose. The most significant reduction in average pore size was shown, which has a beneficial effect on the insulating properties of polyurethane foam. In addition, an increase in mechanical properties was also noted. Both properties are highly desirable in many applications.

Comparative techno-economic assessment of production of microcrystalline cellulose, microcrystalline nitrocellulose, and solid biofuel for biorefinery of pistachio shell

The biorefinery of pistachio shell (PS) for producing microcrystalline cellulose (MC), microcrystalline nitrocellulose (MNC), and biochar (PSB) was techno-economically assessed. A rapid recyclable nitric acid treatment purely isolated 32–41 % of PS as MC particles (crystallinity index of 86 %) at 80 °C for 90 min. A facile synthesis obtained MNC particles (crystallinity index of 79 %) with a nitrogen content of 10.81 % from the MC. The PSB with the HHV value of 27.82 MJ/kg and 24 % production yield was achieved as biocoal via pyrolysis at 400 °C for 30 min. The incorporation of sulfuric acid pre-dehydration with pyrolysis temperature and time improved the PSB yield up to 28 %, while lowering the HHV to 24.12 MJ/kg. The NPV, IRR, ROI, and payback time indicated that the MC and MNC production from PS could make them suitable for future commercialization; however, the PSB production was not profitable because it could not compete with coal.

Modification of Bulk Density, Flow Property and Crystallinity of Microcrystalline Cellulose Prepared from Waste Cotton.

The most affordable type of tablet is the immediately compressible tablet, which uses microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), a popular pharmaceutical excipient, as a filler or binder. To make it compatible with different active drugs and excipients, we tried to change some physical properties of the MCC. In the current study, we used a chelating agent to pretreat the waste cotton before pulping, bleaching, and finally, hydrochloric acid degradation with a concentration of 2N at 100 °C temperature for 20 min to prepare MCC. The prepared MCC was treated with different concentrations of sodium hydroxide at room temperature or at -20 °C followed by precipitation with hydrochloric acid or ethanol with complete washing with distilled water till neutralization. Evaluation of the degree of polymerization (DP) and FT-IR spectrum confirm the identity of the microcrystalline cellulose. The DP was found to be 216. The bulk density of the unmodified MCC was 0.21 while that of modified MCC varied from 0.253 to 0.594. The modified MCC powder showed good flow properties compared to the unmodified MCC as evaluated by the Hausner index, Carr's index and the angle of repose. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the MCC revealed that the rod shape has been changed to an oval shape due to treatment with sodium hydroxide at -20 °C. The X-ray crystallographic (XRD) analysis indicated that the unmodified MCC and standard MCC showed the crystallinity index (CrI) value of 86.82% and 87.63%, respectively, while the value ranges from 80.18% to 60.7% among the modified MCC powder. The differences in properties of the MCC might be due to the variation of rearrangement of the cellulose chain among the MCC particles due to treatment with different concentrations of a base at different temperatures and precipitation environments. This has enabled us to prepare MCC with different properties which might be compatible with different drugs.

Effect of Process Parameters, Protectants and Carrier Materials on the Survival of Yeast Cells during Fluidized Bed Granulation for Tableting.

The administration of living microorganisms is of special interest, with regard to probiotic microorganisms providing health benefits to the patient. Effective dosage forms require the preservation of microbial viability until administration. Storage stability can be improved by drying, and the tablet is an especially attractive final solid dosage form due to its ease of administration and its good patient compliance. In this study, drying of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae via fluidized bed spray granulation is investigated, as the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii is a variety of it. Fluidized bed granulation enables faster drying than lyophilization on the one hand and lower temperatures than spray drying on the other hand, which are the two predominantly used techniques for life-sustaining drying of microorganisms. Yeast cell suspensions enriched with protective additives were sprayed onto the carrier particles of common tableting excipients, namely, dicalcium phosphate (DCP), lactose (LAC) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). Different protectants, such as mono-, di-, oligo- and polysaccharides, but also skimmed milk powder and one alditol, were tested; as they themselves, or chemically similar molecules, are known from other drying technologies to stabilize biological structures such as cell membranes, and thus, improve survival during dehydration. With the combined use of trehalose and skimmed milk powder, survival rates were 300 times higher than without the use of protective additives. In addition to these formulation aspects, the influence of process parameters such as inlet temperature and spray rate were considered. The granulated products were characterized regarding their particle size distribution, moisture content and the viability of the yeast cells. It has been shown that thermal stress on the microorganisms is especially critical, which can be reduced, for example, by reducing the inlet temperature or increasing the spray rate; however, formulation parameters such as cell concentration also influenced survival. The results were used to specify the influencing factors on the survival of microorganisms during fluidized bed granulation and to derive their linkages. Granules based on the three different carrier materials were tableted and the survival of the microorganisms was evaluated and linked to the tablet tensile strength achieved. Using LAC enabled the highest survival of the microorganisms throughout the considered process chain.

The mechanical and physical properties of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)/sisal/PMMA hybrid composites for dental applications

The study on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)-based composites in dental applications has gained much interest in recent years, resulting in many exciting studies worldwide. In those research, various filler types of reinforcing PMMA have been studied extensively. This study combines the microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) particles (0, 1, 2, 3, 5 vol.%) and sisal fiber to strengthen PMMA. We investigate their effects on the flexural, impact, hardness, compressive strength, water absorption, and thermal properties of (MCC)/sisal/PMMA hybrid composites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), universal testing machine (UTM), hardness Vickers, thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), and ANSYS Workbench 2022 R1 software are utilized to characterize the properties of the composites. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is used to characterize the degree of crystallinity of MCC and sisal fiber. Adding MCC to alkali-treated sisal/PMMA decreases the flexural and impact strengths but increases the hardness. Adding 1 and 2 vol.% MCC produces maximum flexural and impact strength and hardness values. Simulation on a composite added with 1% MCC by applying a full force load of 14.4 N yields compressive strength of 42.56 MPa. Thermal stability of all composites with and without MCC shows similarity until 250 °C but gradually degrades at over 250 °C, particularly for composites with MCC. Besides, as the addition of MCC increases, the water absorption also increases, with the lowest value of 37.54 μg mm−3 obtained by the composite added with 1 vol.% MCC, which is within the range of the standard dental materials.

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.

Fouling characteristics of microcrystalline cellulose during cross-flow microfiltration: Insights from fluid dynamic gauging and molecular dynamics simulations

The fouling behaviour of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) particles on polyethersulfone (PES) membranes was investigated using fluid dynamic gauging (FDG) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Experimental cross-flow microfiltration (MF) of a dilute MCC suspension at 400 mbar transmembrane pressure using 0.45 μm PES membranes revealed an estimated fouling layer thickness of 616 ± 5 μm for both fouled and re-fouled membranes at an applied shear stress of 37 ± 2 Pa. A decline in pure water flux was observed after each membrane cleaning and flushing procedure, indicating that highly resilient layers were formed close to the membrane surface. A possible explanation for the formation of resilient cellulose layers was obtained through MD simulations of the free energy profiles, which predicted deep energy minima at close interparticle separations of the cellulose–cellulose and cellulose–PES systems. The consequence of this energy minima is that attractive and repulsive forces are in balance at a specific distance between the particles, suggesting high binding energy at close interparticle distances. This implies that a certain force is needed to remove the layer or redisperse the cellulose particles. MD simulations also suggested that contributions made by repulsive hydration forces negatively influenced the adsorption of cellulose particles onto the PES membrane. These results highlight how experimental FDG measurements, when complemented with MD simulations, can provide insights into the fouling behaviour of an organic model material during cross-flow filtration.

Solid particles surface-modified with beta-cyclodextrin for sustained release of flavor

Beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) has promising applications in many fields based on its hydrophobic cavity at the central of the cyclic molecule, which can form inclusion complex with specific molecule via a host-guest interaction. However, the water solubility of β-CD limits its application. Herein, attempts have been made to graft β-CD onto two kinds of solid particles while retaining the function of β-CD, so as to expand its application. First, SiO 2 nanoparticles were modified with silane coupling agent KH-560 to offer epoxy groups. Then, the epoxy groups of the modified SiO 2 and the hydroxyl groups of β-CD were simultaneously esterified by a dicarboxylic acid of succinic acid in a non-toxic solvent medium to obtain the β-CD modified SiO 2 (SiO 2 @β-CD). On the other hand, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) particles were also modified with β-CD (MCC@β-CD) through co-esterification of their hydroxyl groups with succinic acid. The syntheses were monitored by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and the obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The degrees of β-CD modification for the particles have been measured and analyzed to optimize the synthesis conditions. The results indicate that the degree of β-CD modification for the SiO 2 @β-CD is relatively low, but the material exhibits over 60 ºC elevation of the thermal stability. In comparison, the degree of β-CD modification for MCC@β-CD reached as high as 422 mg/g. Due to the much higher content of β-CD, the synthesized MCC@β-CD was employed to load a flavor compound of D-limonene, and its sustained release was investigated to suggest the potential of the β-CD modified particles.

Influence of ionic liquid (IL) treatment conditions in the regeneration of cellulose with different crystallinity

In this study, we treated microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) with the ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimmidazolium chloride (BMIMCl) to elucidate the effects that IL treatment conditions have on the properties of amorphized cellulose (AC). Analysis of X-ray diffractograms confirmed that after 20 min of IL treatment AC crystallinity was reduced from 77.7 to 57.1%. After 10 h of IL treatment, AC crystallinity decreased to 29.6%. Chemical and morphological changes in the regenerated AC were determined via FT-IR and SEM studies. The rapid transformation of crystalline cellulose domains into amorphous domains is linked to the small MCC particle size (20 μm) and the presence of a moisture-free condition during IL treatment. Thermal stability of the treated cellulose, as determined by TGA and DSC profiling, decreased as the crystallinity index decreased. The high tunability of cellulose crystallinity by IL treatment provides a facile way for designing more efficient hybrid bioactive materials for biomedical applications.Graphical abstract

Studying the dissolution of immediate release film coating using terahertz pulsed imaging

Coated tablets introduce complexity to the dissolution process, even with readily soluble immediate release coating layers. Therefore, a more detailed understanding of the physical steps involved in the dissolution process can improve the efficiency of formulation and process design. The current study uses terahertz pulsed imaging to visualise the hydration process of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) tablet cores that were film coated with an immediate release coating formulation upon exposure to the dissolution medium. Film coated tablets that were prepared from three levels of core porosity (10%, 20% and 30%) and with coating thickness in the range of 30μm to 250μm were investigated. It was possible to resolve and quantify the distinct stages of wetting of the coating layer, swelling of the MCC particles at the core surface, and dissolution of the coating layer followed by the ingress of dissolution media into the tablet core. The liquid transport process through the coating layer was highly consistent and scalable. The penetration rate through the coating layer and the tablet core both strongly depended on coating thickness and core porosity.

Effect of particle characteristics and foaming parameters on resulting foam quality and stability

In this study, the effects of ten different food-grade particles on bubble quality and stabilization of particle-stabilized food foams in batch and continuous foaming with and without polyglycerol ester (PGE) as an emulsifier were investigated. Particle properties, such as contact angle and porosity, and varying process parameters, such as shear rate and gas fraction, were assessed with respect to their impact on bubble size x50,0, bubble size distribution width and drainage.The smallest bubble size x50,0 in foams without PGE could be achieved with banana powder (88 μm), calcium carbonate (89 μm) and microcrystalline cellulose (79 μm) particles. In comparison, the smallest size in the reference without particles were 105 μm. Combining the use of particles with PGE further reduced bubble size by up to 57% and drainage by up to 100%. Increasing the shear rate from 4922 s−1 (35 μm) to 9844 s−1 (14 μm) resulted in smaller mean bubble sizes and significantly narrower bubble size distributions whereas no distinct correlation between gas fraction and resulting bubble size was found.This study shows that using suitable particles in combination with an optimized foaming process promotes both bubble quality and the stability of foams.

Supercritical CO2-assisted impregnation of cellulose microparticles with R-carvone: Effect of process variables on impregnation yield

In this work, the supercritical CO2-assisted impregnation of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) particles with R-(−)-carvone, an antimicrobial monoterpene, was investigated. The effect of CO2 density (278–600 kg m−3), temperature (40–60 °C), carvone:MCC mass ratio (0.5–1.0), and depressurization mode (cold–hot), on the impregnation yield was studied. Carvone loadings were obtained in the range of 0.6–3.6 wt%, and the addition of ethanol (2 wt%) as cosolvent enhanced the impregnation yield up to 10 wt%. The high crystallinity of cellulose (81–84%) remained unchanged after the supercritical process, although SEM analysis showed a partial separation of fiber agglomerates. Carvone release in simulated saliva solution from particles impregnated using cosolvent was slightly slower than from the pure CO2-impregnated particles. The observed release profile could be useful for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications, such as the prevention of oral cavity infections or their treatment at early stages.

New Procedure to Maintain Fecal Microbiota in a Dry Matrix Ready to Encapsulate.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is one of the recommended treatments for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection, but endoscopy and available oral formulations still have several limitations in their preparation, storage, and administration. The need for a viable oral formulation that facilitates the implementation of this highly effective therapy in different settings has led us to test the microcrystalline cellulose particles as an adsorbent of concentrated filtered fresh feces in comparison to lyophilized feces. This free-flowing material can provide protection to bacteria and results in a dried product able to maintain the viability of the microbiota for a long time. Adsorbate formulation showed a stabilizing effect in gut microbiota, maintaining bacteria viability and preserving its diversity, and is a competitive option for lyophilized capsules.

Optimization of the Rheological Properties of Self-Assembled Tripeptide/Alginate/Cellulose Hydrogels for 3D Printing.

3D printing is an emerging and powerful technique to create shape-defined three-dimensional structures for tissue engineering applications. Herein, different alginate–cellulose formulations were optimized to be used as printable inks. Alginate (Alg) was chosen as the main component of the scaffold due to its tunable mechanical properties, rapid gelation, and non-toxicity, whereas microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was added to the hydrogel to modulate its mechanical properties for printing. Additionally, Fmoc-FFY (Fmoc: 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl; F: phenylalanine; Y: tyrosine), a self-assembled peptide that promotes cell adhesion was incorporated into the ink without modifying its rheological properties and shear-thinning behavior. Then, 3D-printed scaffolds made of Alg, 40% of MCC inks and Fmoc-FFY peptide were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy, confirming the morphological microstructure of the hydrogel scaffolds with edged particles of MCC homogeneously distributed within the alginate matrix and the self-assembly of the peptide in a β-sheet conformation. Finally, the cytocompatibility of the scaffolds was tested in contact with the MG63 osteosarcoma cells, confirming the absence of cytotoxic components that may compromise their viability. Interestingly, MG63 cell growth was retarded in the scaffolds containing the peptide, but cells were more likely to promote adhesive interactions with the material rather than with the other cells, indicating the benefits of the peptide in promoting biological functionality to alginate-based biomaterials.

Investigation of Quantitative X-ray Microscopy for Assessment of API and Excipient Microstructure Evolution in Solid Dosage Processing.

Assessment and understanding of changes in particle size of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and excipients as a function of solid dosage form processing is an important but under-investigated area that can impact drug product quality. In this study, X-ray microscopy (XRM) was investigated as a method for determining the in situ particle size distribution of API agglomerates and an excipient at different processing stages in tablet manufacturing. An artificial intelligence (AI)-facilitated XRM image analysis tool was applied for quantitative analysis of thousands of individual particles, both of the API and the major filler component of the formulation, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). Domain size distributions for API and MCC were generated along with the calculation of the porosity of each respective component. The API domain size distributions correlated with laser diffraction measurements and sieve analysis of the API, formulation blend, and granulation. The XRM analysis demonstrated that attrition of the API agglomerates occurred secondary to the granulation stage. These results were corroborated by particle size distribution and sieve potency data which showed generation of an API fines fraction. Additionally, changes in the XRM-calculated size distribution of MCC particles in subsequent processing steps were rationalized based on the known plastic deformation mechanism of MCC. The XRM data indicated that size distribution of the primary MCC particles, which make up the larger functional MCC agglomerates, is conserved across the stages of processing. The results indicate that XRM can be successfully applied as a direct, non-invasive method to track API and excipient particle properties and microstructure for in-process control samples and in the final solid dosage form. The XRM and AI image analysis methodology provides a data-rich way to interrogate the impact of processing stresses on API and excipients for enhanced process understanding and utilization for Quality by Design (QbD).