Thickener

Title: Understanding Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) : a common multifunctional additive

Introduction:

In food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and other fields, additives play an important role in the quality and performance of products. Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is a common multifunctional additive, which is widely used in food industry. This blog will introduce the definition, features, and applications of CMC in different fields.

CMC Definition and features

Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose, or Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium, is a chemical derived from natural cellulose. It is a sodium salt obtained by esterification of cellulose and has good solubility in water. The CMC has the following features:

Water-soluble: CMC can quickly dissolve in water and form a viscous solution.

Viscosity: CMC has a high viscosity, which can increase the viscosity and adhesion of the product.

Stability: CMC can maintain stability under acidic, alkaline and high temperature conditions.

Degradability: CMC can be degraded by intestinal microbes in the human body and is harmless to the human body.

Applications in the food industry

CMC is an important additive in the food industry and is often used in the following ways:

Thickeners and viscosifiers: CMC can increase the viscosity of foods and improve texture and taste, such as in jellies, sauces and dairy products.

Stabilizers: Due to the stability of CMC, it can be used as an emulsifier and stabilizer to help maintain the stability and shelf life of food.

Colorant: CMC can be used as a carrier of colorant for the coloring and uniform distribution of food.

Fiber reinforcer: CMC is combined with cellulose to form a fiber web, which can increase the elasticity and texture of pasta products such as pastry and bread.

Applications in other fields

In addition to the food industry, CMC has a wide range of applications in other fields:

Pharmaceutical industry: CMC is commonly used as a molding agent, stabilizer and controlled release agent for tablets.

Cosmetics industry: CMC can increase the consistency and stability of cosmetics, improve the texture and performance of products.

Pulp and paper industry: CMC can be used as a viscosifier for pulp and a surface coating agent for paper to improve the strength and smoothness of paper.

Conclusion:

Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), as a multi-functional additive, plays an important role in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and other fields. It can not only improve the performance and texture of the product, but also improve the stability and shelf life of the product. However, the use of CMC still needs to be reasonable according to the specific needs and relevant regulations.