Description
What Is Cellulose Gum (CMC)?
- Chemical identity: Sodium salt of carboxymethyl cellulose (C₈H₁₆NaO₈)
- Source: Derived from natural cellulose (typically wood pulp or cotton linters) via chemical modification.
- Appearance: White to off-white powder; highly soluble in cold or hot water.
- Grades: Available in food-grade, pharmaceutical-grade, and technical-grade variants.
Key Benefits
- High viscosity: Effective thickener at low concentrations.
- pH stability: Functions across a wide pH range (3–10).
- Salt tolerance: Maintains viscosity in saline environments.
- Film-forming: Creates flexible, transparent films for coatings and encapsulation.
- Clean-label compatible: Plant-derived and widely accepted in natural formulations.
Functional Roles
| Function | Description |
| Thickener | Adds body and texture to liquids and semi-solids |
| Stabilizer | Prevents phase separation in emulsions and suspensions |
| Binder | Improves cohesion in tablets, bakery, and meat analogs |
| Film former | Used in edible coatings and pharmaceutical capsules |
| Suspending agent | Keeps insoluble particles evenly distributed |
Applications by Industry
- Food:
- Ice cream, sauces, dressings, bakery, beverages: Texture control, moisture retention, and stabilization
- Pharmaceuticals:
- Tablets, syrups, topical gels, eye drops: Acts as binder, thickener, and viscosity modifier
- Cosmetics:
- Lotions, creams, shampoos, toothpaste: Provides smooth texture and suspension
- Industrial:
- Paints, adhesives, detergents, oil drilling fluids: Used for rheology control and water retention
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.