Chemical Used in Daily Life. Structure of the Chemical

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Chemical Used in Daily Life
Currently, more than 76,780 chemicals are present in the markets, and the number is likely to double by the end of 2020. From toothpaste and skincare products to hair dyes, shampoos and soaps, and from processed foods, air fresheners to high-profile consumer items, chemicals are present in everything. Some chemicals are dangerous for human skin, but there are still used in different cosmetics for whitening purposes. It means both safe and hazardous chemicals are used in our daily life in one form or the other, and our survival may never be possible without them. In this paper, I will discuss the structure, functions and safety hazards of carboxymethylcellulose (Metodiev 2013).
Introduction to Carboxymethyl Cellulose
Carboxymethylcellulose, also known as tylose powder and cellulose gum, is a group of glucopyranose monomers. It is extensively used in sodium salt and sodium carboxymethylcellulose. This fluid-like chemical is best known for its applications in the oil and ghee industries. When mixed with water, carboxymethylcellulose floats over the surface and does not let the oil dissolve in water. In addition, this chemical is used in different cleaning products and toothpaste. It should be noticed that regular and long-term use of toothpaste containing carboxymethylcellulose can cause tooth decay and other complications (Tabari 2017).
Structure of the Chemical
The molecules of carboxymethyl cellulose are relatively shorter and thinner than other similar chemical molecules. They are linked with each other in the 2-O- and 6-O- forms, followed by 2,6-di-O-, 3,6-di-O-, and 2,3,6-tri-O- forms (Naderi, et al. 2015). These molecules are capable of extending at low concentration and high temperature and often overlap each other, forming a thermoreversible gel. One of the core properties of carboxymethyl cellulose is that it can rapidly dissolve in cold water and the viscosity of the chemical drops significantly during heating (Wypych 2012).
Primary and Secondary Functions of Carboxymethyl Cellulose
There are a large number of functions of carboxymethyl cellulose. It is primarily used as a thickener or modifier, under E466 (the E number). Its secondary function is stabilizing emulsion in a variety of products such as ice cream. It’s safe to say that carboxymethyl cellulose is a must constituent of different non-food products, including toothpaste, paints, textiles, detergents, paper products, diet pills and heat packs. Thus, we can say that carboxymethyl cellulose is used in both food and non-food products thanks to its viscosity for making it possible. It is considered the main source of fibers and is the first preference of people dealing in the cotton linter and softwood pulp industries (Moon 2015).
In laundry detergents, carboxymethyl cellulose acts as a powerful soil suspension polymer. As a thickening agent, carboxymethyl cellulose is commonly used in the oil industry. Sometimes people use it to drill mud and soil, where it works like a potent modifier. Thus, calling carboxymethyl cellulose one of the best water retention agents ...