Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is a common natural polymer derivative widely used in many fields. Its main uses cover food, medicine, daily chemicals, chemicals and other industries. Due to its good solubility, thickening, stability and emulsification, carboxymethyl cellulose has important applications in various industries.

1. Food industry
In the food industry, carboxymethyl cellulose is used as a food additive, mainly as a thickener, stabilizer, emulsifier, gelling agent and water retaining agent. Its main function is to improve the texture, taste and stability of food. Common applications include:

Thickener: used in jelly, jam, soup, beverages, etc. to increase the viscosity of the product and improve the taste.
Emulsifier: In foods such as ice cream, cream, salad dressing, etc., it helps oil and water mix, improves stability and prevents stratification.
Water retaining agent: In baked foods such as bread and cakes, it can retain moisture and extend the shelf life of the product.
Gelling agent: helps form the desired gel structure in some candies, jellies and other desserts.
2. Pharmaceutical industry
In the pharmaceutical industry, carboxymethyl cellulose is mainly used as an excipient in preparations, with thickening, gelling, emulsification, stabilization and other functions. It has good biocompatibility and can interact with drug ingredients to enhance the stability and efficacy of drugs. Specific applications include:

Controlled drug release: As a drug carrier, carboxymethyl cellulose can control the release rate of drugs and ensure the sustained effect of the drug.
Ophthalmic drugs: Used in eye drops and eye ointments as a thickener to increase the viscosity of eye drops, reduce their volatility and improve efficacy.
Oral drugs: In oral preparations such as tablets and capsules, carboxymethyl cellulose is used as a filler, binder and dispersant to improve the solubility and stability of drugs.

3. Daily chemical products
In the daily chemical industry, carboxymethyl cellulose is mainly used to produce detergents, shampoos, skin care products and other products. Its thickening and emulsifying properties make it very important in these products. Specific uses include:

Thickener: used in shampoo, shower gel, conditioner and other products to increase the viscosity of the liquid and improve the feel of use.
Emulsifier: used as an emulsifier in creams, lotions, skin care products, etc. to help mix oil and water, making the product texture more uniform and stable.
Stabilizer: In cosmetics, carboxymethyl cellulose can improve the stability of the product and prevent stratification or precipitation.
4. Chemical Industry
In the chemical industry, carboxymethyl cellulose, as an important functional polymer material, is widely used in oilfield mining, papermaking, textiles and coatings. Specific applications include:

Oilfield mining: used in drilling fluid, carboxymethyl cellulose can increase the viscosity of the liquid, help take away the cuttings around the drill bit, and prevent the well wall from collapsing.
Papermaking industry: As a papermaking additive, carboxymethyl cellulose can improve the strength and gloss of paper and improve the rheological properties of pulp.
Textile industry: In the textile process, it is used as a textile pulp to improve the durability and gloss of the fabric.
Coating industry: As a thickener, carboxymethyl cellulose can increase the viscosity of the coating, enhance its coating performance and stability.

5. Other fields
In addition, carboxymethyl cellulose is also widely used in some other fields:

Agriculture: In agriculture, carboxymethyl cellulose is used as a thickener and humectant in the preparation of pesticides and fertilizers to help improve the adhesion and stability of fertilizers.
Water treatment: In the field of water treatment, carboxymethyl cellulose can be used as a flocculant to help the sedimentation of impurities in the water and purify the water quality.
Environmental protection: In some environmental protection projects, carboxymethyl cellulose can be used for soil improvement, sludge treatment, etc.

6. Environmental performance
Carboxymethyl cellulose not only performs well in function, but also has environmental protection. It is a biodegradable material, so it will not cause serious pollution to the environment during use, which meets the requirements of modern green chemicals. With the improvement of environmental awareness, more applications have begun to focus on the use of degradable and environmentally friendly raw materials, and carboxymethyl cellulose has certain advantages in this regard.

As a multifunctional polymer compound, carboxymethyl cellulose has been widely used in many industries such as food, medicine, daily chemicals, and chemicals due to its excellent thickening, emulsifying, stability, and biocompatibility. With the development of science and technology and the emphasis on environmental protection, the application field of carboxymethyl cellulose will be further expanded, and its market demand will continue to grow.