Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing essentially pure cellulose granules which comprises treating finely-divided particles of essentially pure cellulose in aqueous suspension with an agglutinating reagent which promotes agglutination of said particles, causing said particles to agglutinate, and mechanically separating the agglutinated cellulose particles from the suspension medium leaving a wet mass of agglutinates, washing said wet mass with water until said agglutinating reagent has been removed therefrom, leaving a second wet mass consisting essentially of agglutinated cellulose particles and water, and displacing the water with a solvent which is solvent for water but non-solvent for cellulose, and removing the water from said second wet mass by a non-evaporative procedure wherein coalescence of said agglutinated particles is prevented and said agglutinated particles dry into discrete granules of essentially pure cellulose.

Abstract: Cellulose granules suitable for use in tableting, having good flow and good binding characteristics, said granules having a particle size as follows:less than five percent (5%) on a 35 mesh (Tyler) screen;less than thirty percent (30%) through a 100 mesh screen; andless than five percent (5%) through a 200 mesh screen,as measured on a Ro-Tap.TM. (Tyler) sifter using a 25 gram sample and with a sieving time of 25 minutes, said cellulose granules consisting essentially of compacted, granulated, and screened cellulose consisting essentially of cellulose fibers having an average length on their largest dimension of between about 20 and about 55 microns, especially between about 30 and about 40 microns, and process of making same by compacting, granulating, and classifying, preferably in a Chilsonator.TM. ; admixtures of said granules with pharmaceutical excipients or binders, especially dibasic calcium phosphate.