Where does hydroxypropyl methylcellulose come from?

Chemical Structure

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Origin

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) is sourced from various natural materials, primarily wood pulp and cotton linters. It has been utilized as a gluten alternative in baked goods manufacturing since its inception.

Function

In baked products, HPMC serves multiple purposes, including:

• Emulsions and foams stabilizer: essential for proper dough development during the baking process.

• Thickening agent: enhances viscosity within the aqueous phase.

• Fat replacer: provides lubrication, contributing to a creamy mouthfeel.

• Gluten substitute: most effective when paired with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) in gluten-free items.

• Bulking agent

• Coating agent: forms films and barriers for coatings.

• Binder

• Water retention: increases shelf-life of baked goods.

• Water balance control during freezing and thawing.

Nutrition

As a non-fermentable soluble dietary fiber, HPMC offers various health advantages, such as lowering total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, reducing type 2 diabetes risk factors, and promoting healthy intestinal movements. Incorporating HPMC into gluten-free baked goods aids diet management for individuals with celiac disease.

Commercial Production

The manufacturing process of HPMC involves:

• Alkalinization: wood pulp cellulose is reacted with a 50 wt% sodium hydroxide solution in a reactor.

• Etherification: methyl chloride followed by propylene oxide is introduced to create methoxy and propylene glycol groups, respectively.

• Neutralization: a hydrogen chloride solution is utilized.

• Purification: the HPMC is washed multiple times with hot water and filtered.

• Drying and sizing: the purified product undergoes drying, grinding to a suitable particle size, and is subsequently packaged.

Application

HPMC finds diverse applications in the production of baked items, fillings, foams, and coatings. It serves as an excellent gluten substitute for gluten-free baked goods, especially when combined with CMC.

Important considerations for incorporating HPMC into food products include:

• Pre-dissolving HPMC/CMC for optimal performance.

• Assessing water activity, as some formulations may require 5-10% moisture.

• Adding HPMC post protein activation.

• HPMC supports high sugar concentrations, tolerating levels up to 50%.

To integrate HPMC/CMC mixtures into food products effectively:

• Disperse HPMC/CMC in one-third of the needed water.

• Add the remaining HPMC/CMC to dry ingredients to prevent clumping.

• Blend the mixture with the required oil before adding it to the bakery mix.

Baked Goods Usage Level Effect Wheat Bread (reduced carbohydrate content) 1.0 %

• Enhances texture
• Increases loaf volume.

Fruit Cake 0.3 %

• Improves texture
• Boosts loaf volume.

Tortillas 0.075 % Pancakes (fat reduced) 0.25 % Waffles (fat reduced) 0.3 % Pastry dough 1.0 %

• Creates a desirable layering structure
• Results in light and flaky texture.

Muffins (fat reduced) 0.4 %

• Enhances textural properties
• Increases loaf volume.

Gluten-free Bread 1.0-1.4 %

• Improves texture
• Heightens loaf volume.

Gluten-free Cake 1.0 %

Regulations

The FDA permits the direct addition of HPMC to food products. In the EU, HPMC (E 464) is deemed safe for intended uses, contingent on it containing 19-30% methyl and 3-12% hydroxyprop(ox)yl groups.

References

1. Wüstenberg, Tanja. Cellulose and cellulose derivatives in the food industry: fundamentals and applications. John Wiley & Sons.
2. Intratec. Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose Production. Intratec, San Antonio. Accessed 8 Oct.
3. Caballero, Benjamin, Paul Finglas, and Fidel Toldrá. Encyclopedia of food and health. Academic Press.
4. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). US Department of Health and Human Services. CFR Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, Part 172 Food Additives Permitted For Direct Addition To Food For Human Consumption, https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=172.874. Accessed 08 October.
5. European Commission (EC). Commission Regulation No 231/ laying down specifications for food additives listed in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No / of the European Parliament and of the Council. Official Journal of European Communities, 09 March.

Cellulose ether used as emulsifier or thickening agent to disperse colloids in water

"HPMC" redirects here. For other uses, see HPMC (disambiguation)

Chemical compound

Hypromellose (INN), or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), is a semisynthetic, inert, viscoelastic polymer commonly used in eye drops, as well as an excipient and controlled-release component in various oral medications.

As a food additive, hypromellose acts as an emulsifier, thickening, and suspending agent, providing a plant-based alternative to animal gelatin. Its Codex Alimentarius code (E number) is E464.

Chemistry

Hypromellose is a slightly off-white to beige powder that can also be formed into granules. When dissolved in water, it creates colloids. This non-toxic ingredient is combustible and can react vigorously with oxidizing agents.

In an aqueous solution, hypromellose, like methylcellulose, shows thermal gelation properties which cause the solution to congeal into a semi-flexible mass when heated past a specific temperature. This critical temperature inversely relates to both the solution’s HPMC concentration and the methoxy group concentration, demonstrating that a higher methoxy content leads to a lower critical temperature.

Uses

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Hypromellose finds usage in various fields, including:

• Tile adhesives
• Cement renders
• Gypsum products
• Pharmaceuticals
• Paints and coatings
• Food
• Cosmetics
• Cleaning products
• Eye drops
• Contact lenses
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Use in Whole Grain Breads

Agricultural Research Service scientists have explored using plant-derived HPMC as a gluten substitute for crafting all-oat and other grain breads. Gluten, common in wheat, rye, and barley, is absent or minimally present in oats and other grains. Similar to gluten, HPMC can encapsulate air bubbles generated by yeast in bread dough, helping the bread to rise.

Use in Construction Materials

HPMC primarily serves in construction materials like tile adhesives and renders, acting as a rheology modifier and water retention agent.

Functionally, HPMC resembles Hydroxy Ethyl Methyl Cellulose (HEMC). Major global producers include DuPont, previously manufactured by Dow Wolff Cellulosics GmbH.

Ophthalmic Applications

Hypromellose solutions have been patented as a synthetic substitute for tear film. Its molecular structure is founded on a highly water-soluble cellulose compound. After application, hypromellose swells and absorbs water, effectively increasing the tear film's thickness, which enhances lubricant presence on the cornea and potentially reduces eye irritation, particularly in arid conditions.

Excipient/Tableting Ingredient

Beyond ophthalmic uses, hypromellose serves as an excipient in oral tablet and capsule formulations, functioning as a controlled-release agent to delay medicinal compound release into the digestive system. It also serves as a binder and as part of tablet coatings.

Test Methods

Various benchmark tests are utilized to qualify hypromellose:

• Viscosity
• Degree of substitution (DS)
• Molar substitution (MS)
• Salt content
• Moisture

Viscosity Test Methods

As a non-Newtonian solution exhibiting pseudoplastic and thixotropic behavior, hypromellose's viscosity measurements may vary based on the testing methods and types of viscometers used, which don't necessarily align with one another. Due to acceptable error ranges, viscosity is typically represented as a mean or a range. Typical viscosity tests require consideration of:

• Solution concentration (1%, 2%, bone-dry 1.9%, etc.)
• Type of viscometer (e.g., RheoSense m-VROC, Brookfield LV, etc.)
• Viscometer spindle number
• Solution Temperature (20°C, 25°C, etc.)

Degree of Substitution

This metric represents the average level of methoxy substitution on the cellulose chain and ranges between 0 and 3, often indicated as a percentage.

Molar Substitution

Molar substitution quantifies the average level of hydroxypropoxy substitution on cellulose chains, potentially exceeding three, yet it is also usually expressed as a percentage.

Moisture

All cellulose ethers exhibit hygroscopic properties, absorbing moisture from the environment if exposed. Hence, moisture must be assessed and adjusted to guarantee a sufficient amount of dry active material for usage. Moisture testing involves weighing an X-gram sample using an analytical scale and drying the sample in an oven at 105 °C for two hours, then reweighing it.

See Also

References

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