Carboxymethyl cellulose

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Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) or cellulose gum is a cellulose derivative with carboxymethyl groups (-CH2-COOH) bound to some of the hydroxyl groups of the glucopyranose monomers that make up the cellulose backbone. It is often used in its sodium salt form, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. The addition of carboxylic acid groups to the cellulose backbone allows carboxymethyl cellulose to be dissolved in water unlike natural cellulose. This allows its use in numerous food and pharmaceutical applications that require water-soluble polymers.

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