Microcrystalline Cellulose Ceolus™
for Pharmaceuticals and Nutraceuticals

Asahi Kasei Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) products offer a key advantage over standard MCC products: exceptional performance driven by innovative particle morphology.

Ceolus™ Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC)
Grade Lineup

Grade Avg. Particle Size (μm) Bulk Density (g/cm3) Repose Angle (°) Loss on Drying (%) Water Absorption (%) Oil Absorption (%)
Ceolus™ KG
Highly compactible MCC with fibrous particles		 KG-1000 50 0.12 57 2.0-6.0 290 210
KG-802 50 0.21 49 2.0-6.0 230 160
Ceolus™ UF
Porous MCC with optimized compactibility and flowability		 UF-702 90 0.29 34 2.0-6.0 240 160
UF-711 50 0.22 42 2.0-6.0 240 150
Ceolus™ PH
High-quality standard MCC grade		 PH-101 50 0.29 45 2.0-6.0 200 120
PH-102 90 0.30 42 2.0-6.0 200 140
PH-200 170 0.35 36 2.0-6.0 200 140
PH-301 50 0.41 41 2.0-6.0 150 90
PH-302 90 0.43 38 2.0-6.0 170 100
PH-F20JP 20 0.23 ≦60 ≦7.0 220 100

Note: Values shown are for reference only and are not product specifications.

Asahi Kasei’s Ceolus™ microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) includes high-performance KG and UF grades, engineered to meet the demands of today’s most challenging pharmaceutical formulations.

Ceolus™ Grades: Compactibility vs. Flowability

Vertical axis: compactibility and horizontal axis: flowability, maps showing the characteristics of each grade of Ceolus™
* Tablet hardness comparison based on acetaminophen/MCC 70:30 formulation using PH-101 as the reference standard.

KG Grade significantly enhances the compactibility of standard PH-grade microcrystalline cellulose (MCC).
KG-1000, in particular, provides twice the compactibility of PH-101, making it ideal for difficult-to-compress formulations.

UF Grade offers a well-balanced solution, combining excellent compactibility with improved flow.
UF-702 matches the compactibility of PH-101 while delivering notably better flowability, enabling smoother tableting operations.

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High Performance
Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC)

Ceolus™ KG
High Compactibility with Fibrous Structure
Available Grades: KG-1000 KG-802

Ceolus™ KG is a high-compactibility microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) featuring a fibrous particle structure. It outperforms standard PH grades in tablet hardness and is ideal for poorly compactible APIs and high-dose formulations.

Key Benefits

  • Supports challenging formulations—ideal for poorly compactible APIs and high doses.
  • Improves tablet quality—reduces issues like sticking, capping, friability, and low hardness.
  • Enables versatile dosage forms—suitable for ODT, MUPS, multi-layer, and mini-tablets.
  • Supports low-pressure tableting—ideal for sensitive APIs requiring gentle processing.
  • KG-1000
    Ceolus™ KG-1000 Scanning Electron Microscope image
  • KG-802
    Ceolus™ KG-802 Scanning Electron Microscope image

Ceolus™ UF
Optimized Balance of Compactibility and Flow
Available Grades: UF-702 UF-711

Ceolus™ UF is a porous microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) grade engineered to optimize both compactibility and flow. It also offers exceptional tablet hardness and disintegration balance compared to standard PH grades.

Key Benefits

  • Ensures tablet integrity—supports optimal hardness and fast disintegration.
  • Improves blend uniformity—reduces risks from poor API distribution and over-lubrication.
  • Ideal for low-dose, poor-flow APIs—supports challenging formulations.
  • Enables high-speed tableting—suitable for large-scale, continuous manufacturing.
  • UF-702
    Ceolus™ UF-702 Scanning Electron Microscope image
  • UF-711
    Ceolus™ UF-711 Scanning Electron Microscope image

Ceolus™ PH
High-quality standard MCC grade
Available Grades:
PH-101　PH-102　PH-200　
PH-301　PH-302　PH-F20JP

Ceolus™ PH provides high-purity, consistent MCC grades that meet global pharmacopeial standards. Suitable for a wide range of solid dosage forms.

  • PH-102
    Ceolus™ PH-102 Scanning Electron Microscope image

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Nitrosamine Risk Reduction
Guaranteed Nitrite Level: < 0.1 ppm

  • Ultra-low nitrite levels across 300+ production lots
  • Consistent lot-to-lot and bag-to-bag quality
  • Nitrite level guaranteed in product specifications
  • Trusted in 400+ global nitrosamine mitigation projects
Grade Lots Tested Lots < LOQ (0.008 ppm) Maximum Nitrite Observed (ppm)
Ceolus™ KG
Highly compactible MCC with fibrous particles		 KG-1000 27 25 0.011
KG-802 38 33 0.015
Ceolus™ UF
Porous MCC with optimized compactibility and flowability		 UF-702 38 36 0.010
UF-711 37 36 0.010
Ceolus™ PH
High-quality standard MCC grade		 PH-101 67 20 0.034
PH-102 72 27 0.027
PH-200 23 9 0.027
PH-301 20 11 0.027
PH-302 16 10 0.016

Verified Internal Testing (Asahi Kasei, Ver. 002)

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Formulation Challenges Solved with Ceolus™ Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC)
by Asahi Kasei

Ceolus™ Functional Properties Formulation and Process Benefits Formulation Challenges Addressed
Compactibility
(KG, UF)​
  • Increases tablet hardness
  • Enables low-compression manufacturing
  • Reduces MCC use in formulations
  • Ideal for pressure-sensitive APIs
  • Protects pellets in MUPS tablets
  • Supports tablet miniaturization
  • Resolves tableting issues
  • Suitable for high-dose formulations
Balance of Compactibility & Flowability​
(UF)​
  • Supports robust formulation design by minimizing segregation risk
  • Enables consistent, high-speed tableting
  • Improves dose uniformity
  • Facilitates switch from wet granulation to direct compression
Disintegration​
(UF)​
  • Delivers fast disintegration without sacrificing hardness
  • Enables orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs)
  • Improves disintegration/dissolution in wet granulated tablets
Low-levels of TUPs
(KG, UF, PH)
  • Minimizes foreign particle contamination risk during manufacturing
  • Enhances production yield
  • Lowers risk of customer complaints
Low-nitrite
(KG, UF, PH)
  • Enables nitrosamine risk mitigation simply by switching MCC supplier
  • Supports formulation feasibility in high nitrosamine risk APIs
  • Reduces regulatory burden and cost of nitrosamine control

Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) Sphere

Celphere™

A 100% Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) sphere, Celphere™ facilitates precise dissolution profiles of controlled release formulations by its high sphericity and narrow particle size distribution.

Key Benefits

  • Enables precise dissolution control for controlled-release formulations
  • Improves production yield—minimizes agglomeration and performs reliably under high mechanical stress and diverse coating equipment

General properties

Grade Particle Size Range (μm) Sphericity Bulk Density (g/cm³) Water Absorption (%)
CP-102 106-212 ≧0.9 0.83 100
CP-203 150-300 ≧0.9 0.87 100
CP-305 300-500 ≧0.9 0.97 110
CP-507 500-710 ≧0.9 0.97 70
CP-708 710-850 ≧0.9 0.93 65

All values are presented only for the purpose of basic reference and not as specifications.

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Asahi Kasei Healthcare Materials Division

  • 50+
    Countries    Global MCC distribution footprint
  • 50+
    Years    Trusted MCC manufacturing experience
  • 400+
    Projects    Global nitrosamine mitigation experience
  • 10+
    MCC Grades    Tailored for formulation diversity
  • 50,000+
    Employees    Worldwide across the Asahi Kasei Group
  • $21.7 Billion

    Asahi Kasei FY2024 global revenue

The Asahi Kasei Healthcare Materials Division supplies high-quality microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) for oral solid dosage forms in both pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. With over 50 years of expertise and a leading share in the Japanese market, our MCC is trusted for its consistency, safety, and performance. Our solutions are engineered to meet the demands of complex, innovative formulations worldwide.

Group photo of the project manager and US team members
Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, Asahi Kasei Founding Place and Ceolus™ Manufacturing Base

Experience the Ceolus™ Advantage

Photo of a researcher checking the pill

Discover the proven quality of Ceolus™ microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), trusted in demanding pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications worldwide. Request a free sample today and take the first step toward safer, more reliable formulations.

How We Support You:

  • Test the Quality—Confirm Ceolus™ MCC’s superior performance directly in your lab.
  • Get Technical Support—Our experts follow up with tailored guidance for your formulation needs.

Included in Your Sample Program:

  • Formulation Consultation—Expert advice on incorporating Ceolus™ MCC into your unique formulation.
  • Problem-Solving Support—Technical help for overcoming formulation or production challenges.
  • Ongoing Follow-up—Support tailored to ensure your development stays on track and compliant.

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Learn more about Ceolus™