What are hpmc capsules made from?

HPMC Capsule Raw Materials and Processing
 

1. Core Raw Material: Plant Cellulose

Wood Cellulose: Pine/fir wood from sustainable forests is crushed and alkalized to extract pure cellulose.
Cottonseed Linter: Some manufacturers use cottonseed lint (waste from the cotton textile industry), which is lower cost but carries a higher risk of impurities.
Refining Process: Cellulose is etherified with propylene oxide and methyl chloride to produce HPMC (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose). No animal ingredients are involved.
 

2. Key Excipients and Taboos

Excipient Type Function Religious Compliance Requirements
Purified water: Dissolves HPMC into gelatin solution. Alcohol and organic solvents are prohibited.
Glycerin: Plasticizer (maintains capsule toughness). Only vegetable glycerin (from coconut oil or palm oil) is permitted.
Calcium glycolate: Regulates gelatin setting speed. Calcium phosphate from animal bone ash is prohibited.
Silicon dioxide: Desiccant (humidity control). Produced using a food-grade precipitation method. Animal-derived anti-caking agents are prohibited.
 

3. Religious Red Lines in the Production Process

Water Source Standards: Water used in gelatin production must comply with Islamic law (not in contact with halal substances). Some Middle Eastern pharmaceutical factories require a blessing from an imam.
Equipment Isolation: The production line is never exposed to alcohol, porcine products, or non-halal pharmaceuticals. Peracetic acid and ultraviolet light are used for sterilization.
Personnel Regulations: Operators are prohibited from bringing alcohol-containing items (such as hand sanitizer or perfume) into the workshop.
 

4. Core Items of Raw Material Certification

Non-GMO Certification: Wood and cotton must provide a Non-GMO certificate (Muslims oppose genetically modified crops). Species Innocent Declaration: Cotton linter suppliers must demonstrate that no animal fibers have been mixed in (e.g., wool blending to create fraudulent fabrics).
Residual Organic Solvent Report: The detection limit for ethanol and acetone in HPMC raw materials is 0.
 

5. Essential Differences from Gelatin

Molecular Structure: HPMC is a linear plant cellulose that dissolves slowly in gastric acid; gelatin is an animal collagen that disintegrates rapidly in gastric fluid.
Contamination Risk: HPMC production can share a vegetarian pharmaceutical production line; the risk of residual porcine DNA in gelatin production lines persists.
Climate Tolerance: HPMC is far more stable than gelatin in dry deserts or humid tropical environments.