Up-Scale of Production and Characterization of Homolog Vivacel from Rice Straw

Up-scale of production of microcrystalline cellulose from rice straw has been done. A total of 1 kg of rice straw powder were made into alpha-cellulose by the method of multistage pulping and hydrolyzing time was 60 minutes with hydrochloric acid 2,5 N and the temperature was 100 o C to produce optimum microcrystalline cellulose. The yield of microcrystalline cellulose which obtained in 60 minutes hydrolyzed was 95 %. Microcrystalline cellulose from rice straw based on the characters test, identification, pH, water soluble substances, solubility, loss on drying, bulk density, and starch test are not significantly different from Vivapur or Avicel PH 102 ® , meanwhile for tap density, Carr's index and Hausner ratio are significantly different.