General Description
Synonyms: Calcium carboxymethylcellulose; calcium cellulose glycolate; carmellosum calcium; CMC calcium; ECG 505; Nymcel ZSC.
Description: Carboxymethylcellulose calcium occurs as a white to yellowishwhite, hygroscopic, odorless powder.
Chemical Name: Cellulose, carboxymethyl ether, calcium salt
Functions
Emulsifying agent; coating agent; stabilizing agent; suspending agent; tablet and capsule disintegrant; viscosity-increasing agent; water-absorbing agent.
Uses
The main use of carboxymethylcellulose calcium is in tablet formulations , where it is used as a binder, diluent, and disintegrant.
Although carboxymethylcellulose calcium is insoluble in water, it is an effective tablet disintegrant as it swells to several times its original bulk on contact with water.
Concentrations up to 15% w/w may be used in tablet formulations; above this concentration, tablet hardness is reduced.
Carboxymethylcellulose calcium is also used in other applications similarly to carboxymethylcellulose sodium; for example, as a suspending or viscosity-increasing agent in oral and topical pharmaceutical formulations.
Carboxymethylcellulose calcium is also used in modern wound dressings for its water absorption, retention and hemostatic properties.
Safety
Carboxymethylcellulose calcium is used in oral and topical pharmaceutical formulations, similarly to carboxymethylcellulose sodium, and is generally regarded as a nontoxic and nonirritant C 117 material. However, as with other cellulose derivatives, oral consumption of large amounts of carboxymethylcellulose calcium may have a laxative effect
Handling Precautions
Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. Carboxymethylcellulose calcium may be irritant to the eyes; eye protection is recommended.
Related Substances
Carboxymethylcellulose sodium; croscarmellose sodium.