Sodium CMC

Thickener, Viscosity Booster, Rheology Modifier, Pigment Dispersing Agent, Sustained Release Tablets & Tablet Binding

Introduction

Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) is one of the most versatile of all water soluble colloids. CMC is a natural product derived from cellulose. Since cellulose is insoluble in water, it is to be converted to water soluble CMC by a chemical reaction. A cellulose molecule consists of several hundred anhydroglucose units with each unit consisting of three reactive hydroxyl groups. A CMC molecule is formed by replacing one or more of these groups with a substituting agent in a chemical reaction.

Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose is the sodium salt of a polycarboxymethyl ether of cellulose. It is prepared from cellulose by treatment with alkali and monochloro-acetic acid or its sodium salt. It dissolves easily into water to produce viscous liquid. Wide range of CMC grades can be produced in controlled manufacturing process. The chemical composition of the each grades differ, which affects the performance. Ready-made CMC resembles a white or yellowish free-flowing powder or granule.

It can form viscous solutions in both cold and warm water. We are offering several viscosity grades of SodiumCMC. CMC provides a vast range of properties for many applications, enhancing the performance and stability of the final product. It is increasingly finding new users and applications due to its non-hazardous nature and environmentally friendly characteristics. All forms and grades of CMC are inherently biodegradable.

General Characteristics

Physical Properties of SCMC Powder (purified type)

  • Appearance: Creamy white powder
  • Moisture: Max 10%
  • pH 1% : 6.0 - 8.0
  • Sodium Chloride: Min 1.0%
  • Purity (dry base): Min 99%

Sodium CMC

Our Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose comes in highly purified form with purity of 99.5%. It is an anionic water-soluble polymer derived fromcellulose. It is white to almost white, odorless, tasteless, hygroscopic granular powder.

  • Compliance with major Pharmacopoeial requirements
  • Batch-to-batch consistency
  • Narrow particle size distribution
  • Black particles free
  • Chemically stable, physiologically inert & non-toxic
  • Anionic polyelectrolyte
  • Soluble in cold & hot water
  • Forms oils, grease and organic solvents resistant films

These all factors make it suitable choice to use in Pharmaceuticals,Personal Care, Food, Paper & Other Industries.

It can be used as Coating Agent; Stabilizing Agent; Suspending Agent; Viscosity-Increasing Agent; Water-Absorbing Agent, Disintegrant; Binder and more. All the grades of our Sodium CMC meet the requirements put to Carboxymethyl Cellulose Sodium for pharmaceutical use by USP/NF, Ph. Eur. and other major pharmacopoeias.

EFFECTS OF VARIOUS ELEMENTS ON AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS SODIUM CMC

Effect of temperature on Viscosity of the solution

The viscosity of a Sodium CMC solution is inversely dependent on temperature. Increase in temperature decreases the viscosity, likewise decrease in temperature increases viscosity. The effect of temperature on solutions of this Sodium CMC is reversible. A slight temperature variation does not have any permanent effect on viscosity. However heating Sodium CMC solutions at high temperatures for long periods will degrade the product and permanently reduce its viscosity.

Effect of concentration on Viscosity of the solution

The viscosity of a SodiumCMC solution is directly dependent on concentration. Increase in concentration increases viscosity, likewise decrease in concentration reduces the viscosity of the solution. Generally Sodium CMC of low viscosity show gradual increase in viscosity, while the Sodium CMC of medium to high viscosity grades showsteep rise in the viscosity.

Effect of pH on Viscosity of the solution

Aqueous solutions are generally stable between pH 4–10. The solutions exhibit maximum viscosity and stability at pH 7–9.Solution viscosity decreases rapidly above pH 10. Precipitation can occur belowpH2.

Effect of Salts on the solution

The content of HPMC in the matrix tablet significantly affects the initial erosion of the tablet in the first stage. To avoid such a risk the content of HPMC should be 20% or higher.Sodium CMC solution is influenced by addition of inorganic salts. Generally monovalent cation salts of CMC are water soluble, divalent salts of CMC are unstable and trivalent salts of CMC are insoluble and precipitated. Effect of salts to Sodium CMC solution is influenced by kinds of salts, concentration of salts, pH of solution, DS of Sodium CMC and the way to contact with Sodium CMC. Generally high DS Sodium CMC shows stability with salts. Influence of salts to Sodium CMC solution changes in accordance with the way to contact with Sodium CMC. For example, mixing Sodium CMC solution with salt solution shows much better stability than adding Sodium CMC powder to salt solution or dissolving Sodium CMC powder and salts together at the same time in water.

Effect of using in mixed solvent

Viscosity of Sodium CMC solution is affected by viscosity of mixed solvent. For example, when Sodium CMC solution is prepared in mixed solvent, composed of 60 parts of glycerin and 40 parts of water, the viscosity of Sodium CMC in mixed solvent shows 10 times higher than the viscosity in water. This viscosity bonus effect is important property which is utilized in manufacturing products like toothpaste.

Effect of using with other water soluble gums

Sodium CMC has good compatibility with other water soluble gums. Especially, Sodium CMC mixed with hydroxyethyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl cellulose gives exceptionally high viscosity than their own viscosity before mixing and viscosity thinning effect of electrolyte, contaminated in water soluble gums is much reduced than the viscosity thinning effect of electrolyte to the water soluble gums before mixing.

Applications

Our Sodium CMC finds application in Pharmaceutical, Personal Care, Food, Textiles, Paints, Ceramics, Building Material, Drilling Mud & Paper industries as follows:

Pharmaceuticals & Personal Care

Solid Orals

  • Sustained Release Tablets
  • Granules & Pellets
  • Uncoated & Coated Tablets
  • Powders

Liquid Oral Dosage Forms

  • Solutions
  • Suspensions
  • Emulsions
  • Syrups

Semi-Solid Dosage Forms / Topicals

  • Creams & Lotions
  • Ear, Eyes & Nasal Drops
  • Gels
  • Jellies, Salves & Ointment Base
  • Muco-Adhesive Patches
  • Ointments
  • Pastes
  • Toothpaste
  • Adhesive Pad
  • Anti-Inflammatory & AnalgesicPads

Food Products

  • Bakery Dough
  • Beverage, Fruit Drink
  • Canned Foods
  • Ice Cream
  • Jam, Jelly, Ketchup
  • Pie & Pudding
  • Salad Dressing
  • Sauce & Pickled Vegetable
  • Sharbats (Sorbet)
  • Yoghurt, Milk

Paper

  • Coating Color Mixture for High Quality Printing Paper
  • Hydro Carbon Mixture for No Carbon Paper
  • Welding Rod

Other Miscellaneous

  • Detergent Powder
  • Granules (Fertilizer, Animal Feed, Agricultural Medicine)
  • Latex Thickener
  • Stationaries

The applications of SodiumCMC however are not limited to these and it is finding many new users and applications in several industries.

DISSOLVING SODIUM CMC

Sodium CMC shows a good solubility in both cold and hotwater. It dissolves slowly through swelling intermediate phase. As Sodium CMC powder is freely water soluble, it will make lumps right after contacting with water. Once lumps are formed, partially dissolved or thickened surface of lumps prevent water from penetrating into the lumps. Accordingly it takes fairly long time to get the complete dissolved solution. Three different methods to dissolve SodiumCMC are as follow:

Adding small quantity of Sodium CMC powder continuously while agitating water:

Fill up the vessels with 70 -80% of water to the total weight of water, needed. Pour Sodium CMC powder slowly and continuously into the water with sufficient agitating. Add rest of water to Sodium CMC dispersed solution while lining wall of the vessel and agitating solution. Care should be made not to make big sized lumps.

Wetting and dispersing Sodium CMC powder with organic solvent which do not dissolve any SodiumCMC powder:

Wet Sodium CMC powder with water miscible organic solvents which do not dissolve any Sodium CMC powder, then add wetted powder into water with continuous agitation.

Making powder blend of Sodium CMC powder with other powdered material:

Make powder blend of Sodium CMC powder with other powdered materials such as sugar and inorganic materials. Then add powder mixture into water while agitating.

Method 2 and 3 will give better solution in short period of time.