- The reaction conditions, including the ratio of reagents, temperature, and time, are carefully controlled to yield HPMC with specific properties tailored to its intended use. After the reactions, the resulting product is washed, dried, and then ground into a fine powder, ready for application. HPMC finds extensive use in the pharmaceutical industry as a binder, disintegrant, and viscosity modifier in tablets and capsules. In construction, it is used as a thickener and water retention agent in mortar and plaster. It also plays a crucial role in the food industry as a food additive, improving texture and stability. Additionally, HPMC is employed in the cosmetic and paint industries due to its film-forming and emulsifying properties. In summary, HPMC, made primarily from cellulose and chemically modified with hydroxypropyl and methyl groups, is a versatile material with a broad spectrum of applications. Its production process, rooted in chemistry, showcases the transformative power of modifying natural substances to meet specific industrial needs.



The applicant claims that the feed additive HPMC is specified to be manufactured to meet the specifications set for its use as a food additive. The main specifications as food and feed additive are: methoxyl groups ≥ 19 and ≤ 30%, hydroxypropoxyl groups ≥ 3 and ≤ 12%, loss on drying < 10%, sulfated ash < 1.5% (for products with viscosities of 50 mPa.s or above) or < 3% (for products with viscosities below 50 mPa.s). Five batches of the additive were analysed for some of the above specifications, resulting in: methoxyl groups (four batches) 23.5–29.2%, hydroxypropoxyl groups (four batches) 5.2–8.4%, loss on drying (one batch) 1.2% and sulfated ash (one batch) 0.6%. Only statements, without figures, of compliance with the specifications for some impurities (heavy metals, arsenic, solvents, microbial purity) were provided. Information on other impurities ((pesticides, dioxins, dioxin-like and non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, mycotoxins, botanical impurities) was not provided.

HPMC stands for hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or hypromellose for short. HPMC is the material from which most supplement capsules are made. It is a clear, tasteless, vegetarian and vegan appropriate material. It is normally made by extraction from wood pulp.
