What is cmc carboxymethylcellulose?

Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) is an important cellulose ether. It is a well-water-soluble cellulose derivative obtained by chemical modification of natural cellulose. Because CMC has excellent water solubility, adhesion, suspension, water retention, thickening and other excellent properties, it is widely used in petroleum, chemical industry, pharmaceutical, food, daily chemicals and other fields.

1. Preparation of carboxymethylcellulose

Carboxymethyl cellulose is usually prepared by chemical modification, that is, under certain conditions, chloroacetic acid or its derivatives are substituted with cellulose, so that the hydroxyl groups on the cellulose are replaced by carboxymethyl groups, thereby obtaining carboxymethyl cellulose. Methylcellulose. During the preparation process, appropriate reaction conditions, such as temperature, pH value, reaction time, etc., need to be selected to ensure product quality and yield.

2. Properties of carboxymethylcellulose

1. Water solubility: Carboxymethyl cellulose can be dissolved in cold water and form a transparent solution at a certain concentration. Its aqueous solution has good stability and is not prone to hydrolysis and precipitation.

2. Adhesion: Since the carboxymethyl cellulose molecule contains multiple hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, it has good adhesion and can adhere to a variety of substances and form a thin film.

3. Suspension: The aqueous solution of carboxymethyl cellulose has good suspension, which can disperse solid particles evenly in water to form a stable suspension.

4. Water retention: Carboxymethylcellulose molecules contain multiple hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, which can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules and have good water retention.

5. Thickening: At a certain concentration, the aqueous solution of carboxymethyl cellulose has good thickening properties and can be used as a thickener for food, medicine, cosmetics and other products.

3. Application of carboxymethylcellulose

1. Petroleum industry: In the petroleum industry, carboxymethyl cellulose is mainly used as a thickener and stabilizer for drilling fluids, which can increase the viscosity and shear force of drilling fluids and make the drilling fluids have good suspension and stability. In addition, carboxymethylcellulose can also be used in oilfield produced water treatment and water blocking agent.

2. Pharmaceutical industry: In the pharmaceutical industry, carboxymethyl cellulose is mainly used as an excipient for oral drugs such as tablets, granules and capsules, which can improve the stability and solubility of the drug. In addition, carboxymethyl cellulose can also be used to prepare drug controlled release systems and drug carriers.

3. Food industry: In the food industry, carboxymethylcellulose is mainly used as food additives, such as thickeners, stabilizers and suspending agents. It can improve the taste and stability of food and extend the shelf life of food.

4. Daily chemical industry: In daily chemical industry, carboxymethyl cellulose is mainly used as a thickener and stabilizer in cosmetics and detergents. In addition, it can also be used as an additive in products such as paper coatings and inks to improve product performance and stability.

In short, carboxymethyl cellulose, as an important cellulose ether, has broad application prospects. With the continuous development of science and technology and people's deepening understanding of carboxymethyl cellulose, its application fields will be further expanded.