Carboxymethyl cellulose

Carboxymethyl cellulose
Names
Other names
Carboxymethylcellulose; carmellose; E466
Identifiers
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
  • none
ECHA InfoCard 100.120.377
E number E466 (thickeners, ...)
UNII
Properties
variable
Molar mass variable
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) or cellulose gum is a cellulose derivative with carboxymethyl groups (-CH2-COOH) bound to some of the hydroxyl groups of the glucopyranose monomers that make up the cellulose backbone. It is often used in its sodium salt form, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. The addition of carboxylic acid groups to the cellulose backbone allows carboxymethyl cellulose to be dissolved in water unlike natural cellulose. This allows its use in numerous food and pharmaceutical applications that require water-soluble polymers.