Wavocel 65G

Description

Wavocel 65G is an industrial grade Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose material with excellent sustainability and performance properties. Wavocel is classified as a semi-purified grade with wide ranging non-food applications. Wavocel has a granular format, allowing for steady hydration in hot or cold water mixing without agglomerates or fish eyes.  Wavocel is an excellent rheology modifier and emulsifier with high viscosity levels that can be achieved with low solids loading.

Wavocel 65G TDS Available here.

GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY STANDARDS:

• Current FCC – Food Chemicals Codex
• Current JECFA – Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives
• U.S. FDA 21 CFR 182.1745
• Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 as amended
• Current China GB 1886.232
• Current USP – United States Pharmacopeia
• Wavocel is considered not genetically modified or derived from a genetically modified organism as defined by the EU regulations 1829/2003 and 1830/2003.

Sustainability:

WAVOCEL Sustainable CMC is a Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose material. Carboxymethyl Cellulose, also known as cellulose gum or CMC, is a water-soluble polymer derived from cellulose, a natural polymer found in plant cell walls. Wavocel is certified readily biodegradable (OCED-301B) and compostable (ASTM D6400) and is not expected to bioaccumulate. Wavocel is physiologically inert, non-toxic and non-GMO.

Uses:

Wavocel CMC is an affective additive in many different industries and in many different applications. Wavocel is a highly versatile material that can be mixed easily with cold water to produce a gel with controlled viscosity values and stability over a wide range of pH levels (3.5 to 12).

WAVOCEL CMC acts as a thickener, stabilizer, and emulsion stabilizer, improving product texture and consistency in applications such as personal care items, including lotions, creams, shampoos, and toothpaste.
Wavocel is used as a rheology modifier in products like adhesives, paints, and detergents and  influences the flow properties and stability of these formulations. WAVOCEL CMC serves as a sizing agent to strengthen yarns and improve their resistance to abrasion, as well as a dye thickener to ensure even dye distribution.

WAVOCEL CMC may be used in construction products like cement-based mortars and tile adhesives to improve workability, adhesion, and consistency.

In the oil and gas industry, CMC is employed as part of drilling fluid formulations to control viscosity and fluid properties. WAVOCEL CMC is utilized in mining operations for various purposes, including dust suppression and ore pelletization. WAVOCEL CMC, can be used for environmental purposes, such as soil erosion control to stabilize soil and prevent erosion, and as a flocculant in wastewater treatment.

How It’s Made:

Wavocel is produced by chemically modifying cellulose through an ether linkage. Cellulose feedstocks come from renewable resources such as wood Pulp and cotton fibers. Carboxymethyl groups (CH2-COOH) are substituted in for the hydroxyl groups on the cellulose chain with an alkaline reaction. WAVOCEL CMC is produced by treating cellulose with an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution followed by monochloroacetic acid or its sodium salt. In a parallel reaction two by-products, sodium chloride and sodium glycolate, are produced. Once these by-products are removed, higher purity Sodium carboxymethylcellulose is obtained.

The material is then dried and milled to it’s desired particle size. In the case of Wavocel, a granular particle size is produced, where 95% of the material by weight would be caught in a 100 Mesh Sieve.

Key Properties:

One of they key properties for Wavocel and all CMCs variations is the Degree of Substitution (DS). This property’s theoretical value ranges from 0 to 3.0, however in practice DS ranges from 0.2 – 1.8 and most frequently 0.5 to 1.3. Degree of Substitution represents the average substitution of a carboxymethyl group for a hydroxide on a given glucose molecule within the cellulose chain.

The DS determines the behavior of CMC in water: Grades with DS >0.6 form colloidal solutions in water that are transparent and clear, i.e the higher the concentration of carboxymethyl groups, the higher the solubility and smoother the solutions obtained. CMC with a DS below 0.6 tends to be only partially soluble.

DS also affects the enzymatic resistance of the cellulose with higher DS being more enzymatically resistant and thus less biodegradable.

Wavocel CMC is engineered is optimized for bother biodegradability and solubility with an average DS of 0.7.

Another key property is Degree of Polymerization (DP). DP is essentially the average length of the cellulose chain and relates to the molecular weight of the CMC molecule. DP has a significant effect on viscosity, the longer the chain, the higher the viscosity.

Shelf Life and Storage and Safe Handling:

Wavocel is a hygroscopic material and will absorb water in high humidity environments. Wavocel should be stored in moisture protective packaging and is best kept in dry environments.

Minus Works certified the shelf-life of Wavocel for 2 years from the date of manufacture. However, Minus Works can certify an additional year with product testing of the sample in question.

Proper PP&E, including masks. Should be worn when working with the dry powder form of Wavocel due to dust. Request SDS from Minus Works to learn more.