Methyl Cellulose CAS 9004-67-5

• Constipation

  Methylcellulose is used to treat constipation. The effect usually occurs within three days. Take it orally. It is recommended to take it with enough water. Side effects may include abdominal pain. It is classified as a laxative in bulk. Its function is to increase the amount of feces, thereby improving intestinal contraction.

• Artificial tears and saliva

  The lubricating properties of methylcellulose are particularly beneficial for the treatment of dry eye. If the natural production of these liquids is disturbed, use a solution containing methylcellulose or similar cellulose derivatives as a substitute for tears or saliva.

• Pharmaceutical manufacturing

  Methylcellulose is used to make drug capsules; Its edible and non-toxic properties provide a vegetarian alternative to gelatin.

• Thickener and emulsifier

  Methyl cellulose is occasionally added to shampoo, toothpaste, and liquid soaps to produce their characteristic consistency. This also applies to foods such as ice cream or fried meatballs. Methyl cellulose is also an important emulsifier to prevent the separation of the two mixed liquids, because it is an emulsion stabilizer.

  Methyl cellulose is also used as a paint rheology modifier to prevent paint sagging.

• Food

  The e number of methyl cellulose as a food additive is e461. E464 is hydroxypropyl cellulose, which is more soluble in water.

  As a kind of gel, methyl cellulose has unique characteristics of solidification and melting when heated and cooled.

  Methylcellulose is used as an ingredient in some meat analogues to replicate the texture of meat.

• Lubricant

  Methylcellulose can be used as a personal lubricant.

The main application of methyl cellulose as performance additive in building materials. It is added to the mortar dry mix to improve the performance of the mortar, such as workability, opening and adjustment time, water retention, viscosity, adhesion to the surface, etc. Building grade methylcellulose is not distinguished from food and pharmaceutical grade methylcellulose and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose because it can be crosslinked with glyoxal to facilitate dispersion in water.

Building materials can be cement-based or gypsum based. Notable examples of dry mix mortars using methylcellulose include tile adhesives, EIFS, insulating plaster, hand troweling and machine sprayed plaster, plaster, self leveling floors, extruded cement sheets, degreasing coatings, joint and crack fillers, and tile grouting The typical dosage is about 0.2% – 0.5% of the total dry powder weight of the dry mixture.

Methyl cellulose derivatives that improve performance characteristics include hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (HEMC). These derivatives usually improve water retention, vertical surface skid resistance, opening time and other characteristics.

• Glue and adhesive

  Methyl cellulose can be used as a mild glue and can be washed off with water. This can be used to secure fine art and Book protection to loosen and remove old glue from the spine and board.

  Methyl cellulose is the main component of many wallpaper pastes. It is also used as an adhesive in crayons and in pharmaceuticals. Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) is a water-soluble adhesive approved by FDA. It has been used in various wet bonding applications of construction products, paints and drug delivery for 70 years. HPMC adheres firmly to all wet surfaces regardless of hydrophobicity.

• Paper and textile sizing

  Methylcellulose is used as a sizing agent in the production of paper and textiles because it protects the fiber from absorbing water or oil.

Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (HEMC) are used as adhesives in dust control technology. They can reduce fugitive dust released from arid / semi-arid areas and improve commercial masks when used as filter materials.

Methylcellulose is also used in cell culture to study viral replication. It is dissolved in the same nutrient medium in which the cells normally grow. Monolayer cells grow on a flat surface and then infect the virus in a short time. The strength of the virus sample used will determine how many cells are infected during this period. Then a thick methylcellulose medium was added to the top of the cells to replace the normal liquid medium. When viruses replicate in infected cells, they can spread between cells whose membranes are in contact with each other, but they are captured when they enter methylcellulose. Only the cells immediately adjacent to the infected cells will be infected and die. This leaves small dead cell areas called plaques in the larger background of uninfected living cells. The number of plaques formed is determined by the strength of the original sample.

• Bacterial and protozoan motion inhibitors

  Methyl cellulose aqueous solution has been used to slow down the movement of bacteria and protozoan cells for more careful examination. The viscosity of the solution can be adjusted by changing the amount of methylcellulose in the solution.

• Stem cell differentiation

  Methylcellulose is used as the most common method to quantify hematopoietic progenitor cells of multiple or single lineages, called colony forming cells (CFCs) or colony forming units (CFUs), combined with culture supplements that promote their proliferation and differentiation, and allow the clonal descendants of single progenitor cells to remain together to form a more mature cell population.

It is a pure hydrophilic white powder, soluble in cold water (but insoluble in hot water) to form a transparent viscous solution or gel.

Methylcellulose is used as a buffer additive in capillary electrophoresis to control electroosmotic flow and improve separation.

Methyl cellulose, properly prepared with water, has a sticky appearance. In addition to its non-toxic, non allergic and edible properties, it is also widely used in the special effects of movies and television that must simulate dirty mucus. In the movie ghost hunting death squads, the supernatural entity used to “stick” the ghost hunting death squads. The sticky material is mainly a concentrated aqueous solution of methylcellulose. Aliens ooze and drip large amounts of methylcellulose – especially the queen.

Methylcellulose is also used to safely simulate molten materials. In several terminator films, it uses colored gel and film for backlighting to reproduce the heating glow of iron used to transport metal from smelting furnaces to large ladles in various molds and forms.