كربوكسي ميثيل السليلوز (CMC) أو صمغ السليلوز 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 as its sodium salt, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. It used to be marketed under the name Tylose, a registered trademark of SE Tylose.
Carboxymethyl cellulose is synthesized by the alkali-catalyzed reaction of cellulose with chloroacetic acid. The polar (organic acid) carboxyl groups render the cellulose soluble and chemically reactive. يمكن أيضًا تحويل الأقمشة المصنوعة من السليلوز - مثل القطن أو الحرير الصناعي الفسكوزي - إلى CMC.
Following the initial reaction, the resultant mixture produces approximately 60% CMC and 40% salts (sodium chloride and sodium glycolate); this product is the so-called technical CMC, which is used in detergents. An additional purification process is used to remove salts to produce pure CMC, which is used for alimentary and pharmaceutical applications. An intermediate "semi-purified" grade is also produced, typically used in paper applications such as the restoration of archival documents
