Low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose powder and method for producing the same

摘要

Provided are a low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose powder having high compressibility, good flowability and excellent disintegration, and a method for producing the same. More specifically, provided is a method for producing a low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose powder having a molar substitution number per anhydrous glucose unit of 0.05 to 1.0, which is insoluble in water and swollenable by absorbing water, comprising the steps of: adding an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution to powdered pulp in such a manner that weight ratio of sodium hydroxide with respect to anhydrous cellulose is 0.1 to 0.3 so as to produce alkali cellulose; etherifying the obtained alkali cellulose to obtain a crude product; neutralizing the sodium hydroxide contained in the obtained crude reaction product; washing the resultant; drying; and pulverizing using by compaction-grinding.