Description
Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose(CMC) is a versatile biopolymer derived from cellulose, a natural polymer found in plant cell walls. It is widely used in the food and medical industries due to its unique properties, which include biocompatibility, biodegradability, and water solubility. Here is a professional introduction to CMC’s applications and specifications in these fields:
Food Industry Applications:
CMC is used as an emulsifier, stabilizer, and thickener in the food industry. It is found in a variety of products such as drinks, ice cream, yogurt, meat products, bread, wine, jelly, candy, cookies, noodles, and jams. It enhances product flavor and extends shelf life by improving the texture and stability of food products. In food packaging, CMC is being explored for its potential in creating active and intelligent packaging materials that can extend the shelf life of food products, maintain freshness, and reduce waste. It is also used in edible films and coatings for fresh produce, meat products, and other food items to minimize moisture migration, reduce weight loss, and inhibit microbial growth, thus preserving the nutritional content and visual appeal of the food .
Medical Field Applications:
In the medical field, CMC is used in drug delivery systems due to its ability to control the release of active ingredients. It is also used as a viscosity modifier in pharmaceutical formulations. The CMC-based films can be tailored with various additives and nanofillers to enhance their mechanical properties and barrier performance, making them suitable for medical applications such as wound dressings and controlled release systems .
Specifications:
The specifications for CMC can vary depending on the application. For food-grade CMC, the key specifications often include:
– Viscosity of 1% solution (mPa.s at 25°C)
– Appearance (white to off-white powder)
– Degree of substitution (DS)
– Purity (%)
– pH of 1% solution at 25°C
– Loss on drying (%)
– Heavy metals content (ppm)
– Microbial limits (total plate count, E. coli, yeast, and mold)
For example, a food-grade CMC specification might require a viscosity range of 5.0-100 mPa.s for a 1% solution at 25°C, a DS of 0.7-0.9, and a purity of ≥99.5% .
In the medical field, the specifications for CMC are more stringent due to the critical nature of its applications. It must meet specific standards for purity, endotoxin levels, and the absence of adventitious agents to ensure patient safety.
CMC is synthesized through a series of steps that include extraction and purification of cellulose, alkalisation, carboxymethylation, neutralisation, purification, and drying. Each step contributes to creating a CMC that meets the desired specifications for its intended application
