Methyl Cellulose (MC) Wholesale

Methyl cellulose (MC) is made by chemically modifying natural cellulose refined cotton, which is the main component of plant cell walls. The process involves reacting cellulose with sodium hydroxide and then with methyl chloride, which results in the addition of methyl groups to the cellulose molecules. The degree of substitution (DS) determines the number of methyl groups that are added to the cellulose molecules and affects the physical properties of the resulting methyl cellulose.

The manufacturing process of making methyl cellulose can be in the following steps:

Purification of cellulose:

The natural cellulose is purified to remove impurities, such as lignin and hemicellulose, which can interfere with the chemical modification process.

Alkalization:

The purified cellulose is treated with sodium hydroxide to create an alkaline environment that promotes the reaction between cellulose and methyl chloride.

Etherification:

Methyl chloride is added to the mixture of cellulose and sodium hydroxide to react with the hydroxyl groups on the cellulose molecules. This results in the addition of methyl groups to the cellulose molecules, creating the methyl cellulose.

Neutralization and washing:

The resulting product is neutralized with an acid to stop the reaction and then washed to remove any remaining impurities.