Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)

Abstract

Carboxymethy1cellulose (CMC), a water soluble polymer, is produced by etherification of cellulose. One sixth of the world production (350000 tin 1988) is used in laundry formulations. CMC from laundry wash ends up in waste water treatment systems andjor the environment. CMC is biodegraded in nature and biological waste water treatment systems by aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. After an initial hydrolysis by extracellular enzymes the resulting products are metabolized by cellulotic and non-cellulotic microorganisms. The biodegradation rate of CMC varies inverse1y proportional with the degree of substitution. The few ecotoxicity data available c1early show that CMC is a harmless substance.