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Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) is a versatile, water-soluble anionic polymer derived from cellulose, the most abundant natural polymer on Earth. It is produced through a chemical reaction known as etherification, where cellulose from wood pulp or cotton linters is treated with sodium hydroxide and monochloroacetic acid. This process substitutes hydroxyl groups on the cellulose chain with carboxymethyl (-CH₂-COOH) groups, converting the insoluble cellulose into its water-soluble sodium salt. The degree of substitution (DS)—the average number of carboxymethyl groups per glucose unit—determines key properties like solubility, viscosity, and stability. This chemical modification creates a long-chain molecule that can thicken solutions, bind water, form films, and stabilize emulsions and suspensions.

The multifunctionality of CMC has led to its widespread adoption as a safe and effective additive across food, pharmaceutical, and industrial sectors. In the food industry, it is a common thickener, stabilizer, and moisture-retention agent in products like ice cream, sauces, and gluten-free baked goods. In pharmaceuticals, it serves as a binder in tablets, a viscosity modifier in liquid formulations, and a lubricant in ophthalmic solutions. Industrially, CMC is indispensable in drilling fluids for oil and gas wells to control viscosity and fluid loss, in detergents as a soil-suspending agent, in paper manufacturing to improve strength, and in ceramics as a binder. Its non-toxic, biodegradable, and renewable nature makes it a preferred choice for formulating a vast array of consumer and industrial products where controlled rheology and stabilization are required.