Carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt

Carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt, commonly abbreviated as NaCMC or CMC, is a water-soluble cellulose derivative produced by reacting cellulose with sodium monochloroacetate. It is commercially available under trade names including Cellpro, CMC 7HF, CMC 7MF, and CMC 7LF, and is identified by CAS 9085-26-1.

In pharmaceutical tablet manufacturing, NaCMC functions as a binder and disintegrant by absorbing water and swelling to control drug release profiles. In oil and gas drilling fluids, it modifies rheology by increasing viscosity and reducing fluid loss into porous rock formations. Water treatment operations use it as a flocculant, where its anionic backbone attracts suspended particles to aid sedimentation.

NaCMC is supplied in multiple viscosity grades, including low, medium, and high molecular weight variants, to suit specific formulation requirements. It complies with Ph.Eur., FCC, and USP monographs depending on grade, and is registered under REACH. Packaging typically ranges from 25 kg bags to bulk quantities.