CMC manufacturing

CMC is produced from cellulose, monochloroacetic acid (MCA or ClCH2COOH) and sodiumhydroxide (NaOH). Even if the cellulose molecule is highly hydrophilic due to the hydroxylgroups, the strong inter- and intramolecularhydrogen bonding renders cellulose insolublein water. The molecule is made water-solubleby a chemical reaction, where hydroxyl groupsare partially substituted by carboxymethylgroups. The main chemical reactions areillustrated below：