MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET

Avicel® PH Microcrystalline Cellulose

MSDS Ref. No.: 9004-34-6

Date Approved: 01/31/2008
Revision No.: 9

This document has been prepared to meet the requirements of the U.S. OSHA Hazard Communication
Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200 and Canada’s Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
requirements.

1. PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME: Avicel® PH Microcrystalline Cellulose
CHEMICAL FAMILY: Carbohydrate
SYNONYMS: Microcrystalline cellulose (INCI name): MCC, cellulose gel
ALTERNATE PRODUCT NAME(S): Avicel PH 101, 102, 103, 105, 112, 200, 113, 301, 302, 200LM

MANUFACTURER EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS

FMC BioPolymer (302) 451-0100 (FMC Plant - Newark, Delaware)
1735 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103 (303) 595-9048 (Medical - U.S. - Call Collect)
(800) 526-3649 (General Information)
msdsinfo@fmc.com (Email - General Information)
For leak, fire, spill, or accident emergencies, call:
FMC Europe NV (800) 424-9300 (CHEMTREC - U.S.A. & Canada)
Avenue Mounier 83 (703) 527-3887 (CHEMTREC - Collect - All Other Countries)
1200 Brussels, Belgium
353 21 435 4133 (General Information - Cork,
Ireland)

2. HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION
EMERGENCY OVERVIEW:
• White free-flowing, odorless powder.
• Powder becomes slippery when wet.
• Accumulation of overhead settled dust may form explosive concentrations in air when disturbed and
dispersed.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS: No significant health hazard expected.

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3. COMPOSITION / INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS

Chemical Name CAS# Wt.% EC No. EC Class

Microcrystalline cellulose 9004-34-6 232-674-9 Not Classified

4. FIRST AID MEASURES

EYES: Flush with plenty of water. Get medical attention if irritation occurs and persists.

SKIN: Wash with plenty of soap and water.

INGESTION: Drink plenty of water. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. If any
discomfort persists, obtain medical attention.

INHALATION: Remove to fresh air. If breathing difficulty or discomfort occurs and persists, obtain
medical attention.

NOTES TO MEDICAL DOCTOR: This product has low oral, dermal and inhalation
toxicity. It is non-irritating to the eyes and skin, and non-sensitizing to the skin. Treatment is symptomatic
and supportive.

5. FIRE FIGHTING MEASURES

EXTINGUISHING MEDIA: Water

FIRE / EXPLOSION HAZARDS: The accumulation of excessive dust on overhead

structures may produce explosive concentrations when disturbed and dispersed. According to NFPA 68,
(Explosion Venting Guide), the Hazard Class of Dust Deflagrations for microcrystalline cellulose is St-1,
the lowest hazard class.

FIRE FIGHTING PROCEDURES: For fires involving this material, do not enter any
enclosed or confined fire space without wearing full protective clothing and self-contained breathing
apparatus (SCBA) approved for firefighting. This is necessary to protect against the hazards of heat,
products of combustion and oxygen deficiency. Do not breathe smoke, gases or vapors generated.

FLAMMABLE LIMITS: Not applicable

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6. ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES

RELEASE NOTES: Powder becomes slippery when wet. Maintain good housekeeping practices
to minimize accumulation of settled dust, especially on overhead surfaces. Sweep up the spilled material
and dispose of in accordance with the waste disposal method outlined in Section 13, "Disposal
Considerations".

7. HANDLING AND STORAGE

HANDLING AND STORAGE: Use local exhaust or general dilution ventilation to control
exposure to dust. Always use safe lifting techniques when manually moving containers, especially when
shipping containers weighing more than 50 pounds (22.7 kg). To protect quality, store in a tight container in
a dry place, at room temperature (approximately 25°C). Pallets should be stacked in a stable manner.
Maintain adequate clearance from structural members and sprinklers; NFPA and U.S. OSHA state a
minimum of 18 inches (45.7 cm) clearance shall be maintained between the top of storage and the ceiling
sprinkler deflectors.

8. EXPOSURE CONTROLS / PERSONAL PROTECTION

EXPOSURE LIMITS
Chemical Name ACGIH OSHA Supplier

Microcrystalline 10 mg/m3 (TWA) 15 mg/m3 (PEL) (total

cellulose dust)
5 mg/m3 (PEL)
(respirable fraction of
dust)

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

EYES AND FACE: Whenever airborne dust concentrations are high, appropriate
protective eyewear, such as mono-goggles, should be worn to prevent eye contact.

RESPIRATORY: Whenever dust in the worker's breathing zone cannot be controlled with
ventilation or other engineering means, workers should wear respirators or dust masks approved by
NIOSH/MSHA, EU CEN or comparable certification organization to protect them against airborne
dust.

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: No special clothing is required.

GLOVES: No special gloves are required.

COMMENTS:

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ADDITIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS:

MCC:
Australia (TWA) 10 mg/m³
Belgium (TWA) 10 mg/m3 (inhalable dust)
China (STEL): 25 mg/m³
China (TWA): 10 mg/m³
Hong Kong (TWA): 10 mg/m³
Ireland (TWA): 10 mg/m³ (inhalable dust)
Korea (TWA): 10 mg/m³
New Zealand (TWA): 10 mg/m³ (respirable dust with no asbestos and less than 1% free silica)
Singapore (PEL): 10 mg/m³
Switzerland (TWA): 3 mg/m³ (respirable dust)
United Kingdom (STEL): 10 mg/m³ (total inhalable dust)
United Kingdom (TWA): 10 mg/m³ (total inhalable dust); 4 mg/m³ (respirable dust)

9. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

ODOR: Odorless
APPEARANCE: White, free-flowing powder
AUTOIGNITION TEMPERATURE: Not applicable
BOILING POINT: Not applicable
COEFFICIENT OF OIL / WATER: (Kow) Not applicable
EVAPORATION RATE: (Butyl acetate = 1) Not applicable
FLASH POINT: Not applicable
MELTING POINT: Not applicable
OXIDIZING PROPERTIES: Not applicable
PERCENT VOLATILE: Typically 1 - 5 % water, by weight
pH: (In solution) 5.0 - 7.0 (11% solids dispersion)
SOLUBILITY IN WATER: (% by weight) Insoluble
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: (H2O = 1) Bulk density, 0.2 - 0.5 g/cc
VAPOR DENSITY: (Air = 1) Not applicable
VAPOR PRESSURE: Not applicable

COMMENTS:
EXPLOSIVE PROPERTIES: Microcrystalline cellulose: St-1
MINIMUM IGNITION TEMPERATURE: Microcrystalline cellulose: 420°C

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10. STABILITY AND REACTIVITY

CONDITIONS TO AVOID: None known
STABILITY: Stable
HAZARDOUS DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS: None known.

11. TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION

EYE EFFECTS: Non-irritating (rabbit)

SKIN EFFECTS: Non-irritating (PII = 0/8.0) (rabbit)

DERMAL LD50: > 2,000 mg/kg (rabbit)

ORAL LD50: > 5,000 mg/kg (rat)

INHALATION LC50: > 5.05 mg/l (4 h) (rat) Maximum attainable concentration - zero mortality

SENSITIZATION: (Skin) Non-sensitizing (guinea pig)

ACUTE EFFECTS FROM OVEREXPOSURE: This product has low oral, dermal
and inhalation toxicity. It is non-irritating to the eyes and skin, and non-sensitizing to the skin. No
significant acute toxicological effects are expected.

CHRONIC EFFECTS FROM OVEREXPOSURE: Microcrystalline cellulose is

considered an inert dust, which is not toxic to the lung when exposures are properly controlled. A 90-day
animal study showed no adverse effects when administered in the diet. Microcrystalline cellulose was
negative in the Ames mutagenicity assay, and caused no chromosome damage in the mouse micronucleus
assay. No adverse human effects are known.

CARCINOGENICITY:
NTP: Not listed
IARC: Not listed
OSHA: Not listed
OTHER: Not Listed (ACGIH)

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12. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION

ENVIRONMENTAL DATA: Microcrystalline cellulose is inherently biodegradable in soil. It
biodegrades in soil at a rate comparable to corn starch.

ECOTOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION:
48-hour LC50 > 100%, saturated solution, NOEC = 100% (daphnia)
96-hour LC50 > 100%, saturated solution, NOEC =100% (rainbow trout)
96-hour EC50 > 100%, saturated solution, NOEC = 12.5% (algae)

13. DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS

DISPOSAL METHOD: No special disposal methods are suggested. It is the user's responsibility
to comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, regulations and standards.

14. TRANSPORT INFORMATION

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT)

MARINE POLLUTANT: None

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Not listed in Title 49 of the U.S. Code of

Federal Regulations as a hazardous
material.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: National Motor Freight Classification Item

71390, Flour Cellulose, Edible

INTERNATIONAL MARITIME DANGEROUS GOODS (IMDG)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Not applicable

ADR - EUROPEAN AGREEMENT CONCERNING THE

INTERNATIONAL CARRIAGE OF DANGEROUS GOODS BY ROAD

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Not applicable

INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION (ICAO) /

INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION (IATA)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Not applicable

OTHER INFORMATION:
Canada (TDG) : Not applicable

15. REGULATORY INFORMATION

UNITED STATES
SARA TITLE III (SUPERFUND AMENDMENTS AND REAUTHORIZATION ACT)
SECTION 302 EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES (40 CFR 355, APPENDIX A):
Not applicable

SECTION 311 HAZARD CATEGORIES (40 CFR 370):

None

SECTION 312 THRESHOLD PLANNING QUANTITY (40 CFR 370):

The Threshold Planning Quantity (TPQ) for this product, if treated as a mixture, is 10,000 lbs;
however, this product contains the following ingredients with a TPQ of less than 10,000 lbs.:
None

SECTION 313 REPORTABLE INGREDIENTS (40 CFR 372):

This product does not contain any toxic chemicals subject to the reporting requirements of
Section 313, Title III of the SARA (Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act) of
1986.

CERCLA (COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE COMPENSATION AND

LIABILITY ACT)

CERCLA DESIGNATION & REPORTABLE QUANTITIES (RQ) (40 CFR 302.4):

Not applicable

TSCA (TOXIC SUBSTANCE CONTROL ACT)

TSCA INVENTORY STATUS (40 CFR 710):
Listed

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CANADA
WHMIS (WORKPLACE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INFORMATION SYSTEM):
This product has been classified in accordance with the hazard criteria of the Controlled Products
Regulations and the MSDS contains all the information required by the Controlled Products
Regulations.
Not a controlled product under the Canadian Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
(WHMIS).

Domestic Substance List: Listed

E NUMBERS:
E 460(i) (microcrystalline cellulose)

INTERNATIONAL LISTINGS
MCC
Australia (AICS): Listed
China: Listed
Japan (ENCS): (8)-568
Korea: KE-05339
Philippines (PICCS): Listed

16. OTHER INFORMATION

NFPA

Health 0
Flammability 1
Reactivity 0
Special None
No special requirements

NFPA (National Fire Protection Association)

Degree of Hazard Code:

4 = Extreme
3 = High
2 = Moderate
1 = Slight
0 = Insignificant

REVISION SUMMARY:
This MSDS replaces Revision #8, dated November 7, 2005.
Changes in information are as follows:
Section 1 (Product and Company Identification)

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Section 15 (Regulatory Information)

Section 16 (Other Information)

Avicel and FMC BioPolymer - Trademarks of FMC Corporation

© 2008 FMC Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

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