Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is a carboxymethylated derivative of cellulose, also known as cellulose gum, and is the main ionic cellulose gum.
CMC is usually an anionic polymer compound obtained by reacting natural cellulose with caustic soda and monochloroacetic acid, and the molecular weight of the compound ranges from thousands to millions.
CMC is a modified natural cellulose. Currently, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have officially called it "modified cellulose". The synthesis method of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose was invented by German E. Jansen in 1918, and was patented in 1921 and was introduced to the world. Since then, it has been commercially produced in Europe.
CMC was only a crude product at that time, used as a colloid and binder. From 1936 to 1941, the industrial application research of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose was quite active, and several quite inspiring patents were published. During the Second World War, Germany used CMC in synthetic detergents as an anti-redeposition agent and as a substitute for certain natural gums (such as gelatin and gum arabic), which greatly developed the CMC industry.
Hercules Company in the United States began industrial production of CMC in 1943 and produced refined sodium carboxymethyl cellulose products in 1946. The product was recognized as a safe food additive.
CMC has many special properties, such as thickening, bonding, film formation, water retention, emulsification, suspension, etc., and it is non-toxic, odorless, not easy to ferment, and has good thermal stability. It is widely used in petroleum, geology, daily chemicals, food, medicine and other industries and is known as "industrial MSG".
