BIOGRUND and Seprify launch plant-based tablet coating to replace titanium dioxide
BIOGRUND has integrated Seprify’s cellulose ingredient SilvaAlba™ into ready-made coating systems, offering nutraceutical manufacturers a mineral-free, clean-label alternative to titanium dioxide (E171) and calcium carbonate (E170).
The partnership addresses a pressing formulation challenge for the nutraceutical sector following the European Union’s 2022 ban on titanium dioxide as a food additive. With consumer demand for shorter, more transparent ingredient lists intensifying, manufacturers have been seeking technically credible substitutes that can perform reliably under industrial processing conditions.
A cellulose-based solution to a regulatory challenge
SilvaAlba is a microcrystalline cellulose derived from renewable plant sources. Its primary function in tablet coating systems is whitening – a role historically fulfilled by TiO₂ (E171), which provides high opacity and brightness. According to Seprify, SilvaAlba achieves comparable optical performance through efficient light scattering from its engineered cellulose structure.
Beyond whitening, the ingredient offers improved pH stability relative to calcium carbonate (E170), a commonly used mineral alternative, which is significant for maintaining coating performance across the pH conditions typical of nutraceutical processing. Its classification as a form of microcrystalline cellulose also means it carries existing regulatory familiarity for formulators working in both food supplement and pharmaceutical contexts.
Ready-made systems for rapid adoption
BIOGRUND’s contribution to the partnership is its established infrastructure for formulating and supplying ready-to-use coating premixes. By incorporating SilvaAlba directly into these systems, the company enables customers to trial and adopt mineral-free coatings without overhauling existing manufacturing processes.
Mahmud Yunis, Technical Director at BIOGRUND, noted: “Integrating SilvaAlba into our ready-made coating formulations allows us to provide a plant-based whitening solution that combines optical performance with formulation simplicity. This helps nutraceutical manufacturers move toward mineral-free products with confidence.”
Lukas Schertel, CEO and co-founder of Seprify, emphasised the materials science underpinning the approach: “Developing a credible alternative to titanium dioxide requires more than replacing a pigment. The material must integrate into real manufacturing systems while maintaining optical performance and regulatory clarity.”
Supply scale and commercial availability
The launch follows Seprify’s €13.4 million Series A funding round, which underpins the company’s scalable production capacity – a factor the firm cites as critical as industry demand for TiO₂ alternatives continues to grow.
The mineral-free coating system is available immediately for customer evaluation and formulation trials, with BIOGRUND offering customised solutions to match specific tablet formulations. Both companies will present the system at Making Pharmaceuticals & Nutraceuticals (21-22 April) and Vitafoods Europe (5-7 May).
- For more information, visit: seprify.com and www.biogrund.com
