Quick Search

PRODUCTS

ETHYL METHYL CELLULOSE

Identifiers
CAS Number: 9004-69-7
E number: E465 (thickeners, ...)

Properties
Chemical formula
C6H7O2(OH)x(OCH3)y(OC2H5)z]n, z = 0.57-0.8, y = 0.2-0.4, x = 3-(x+y)
Molar mass: 30000-40000 g/mol[

Ethyl methyl cellulose is cellulose obtained directly from strains of fibrous plant material and partially etherified with methyl and ethyl groups
Ethyl methyl cellulose is a thickener, vegetable gum, foaming agent and emulsifier. Its E number is E465.
Chemically, it is a derivative of cellulose with ethyl and methyl groups attached by ether linkages. 
Ethyl methyl cellulose can be prepared by treatment of cellulose with dimethyl sulfate and ethyl chloride in the presence of an alkali.
Ethyl methyl cellulose is a thickener, vegetable gum, foaming agent and emulsifier. Its E number is E465.[
Chemically, Ethyl methyl cellulose is a derivative of cellulose with ethyl and methyl groups attached by ether linkages. 
Ethyl methyl cellulose can be prepared by treatment of cellulose with dimethyl sulfate and ethyl chloride in the presence of an alkali.

Definition
Ethyl methyl cellulose is cellulose obtained directly from strains of fibrous plant material and partially etherified with methyl and ethyl groups
Ethyl cellulose (EC) is an important commercial cellulose derivative where ethoxy groups have replaced hydroxyl groups on the repeating glucose units. 
While complete etherification is possible yielding triethyl cellulose, usually only to 2 to 2.5 ethoxyl groups per glucose unit are etherified.


Chemical name: Ethyl methyl ether of cellulose

Description
Slightly hygroscopic white or slightly yellowish or greyish odourless and tasteless, granular or fibrous powde

Uses
Binder / Stabilizer: 
Retains the physical characteristics of food/cosmetics and ensure the mixture remains in an even state.
Emulsifier:
Allows water and oils to remain mixed together to form an emulsion, such as in mayonnaise, ice cream, and homogenized milk
Gelling Agent / Thickener  
Ethyl methyl cellulose increases the viscosity by thickening the liquid to give it more texture
Ethyl methyl cellulose is a thickener, vegetable gum, foaming agent and emulsifier. ,
Ethyl methyl cellulose's E number is E465. 
Ethyl methyl cellulose is used in many products including pasteurized products, ice-creams, cheeses, dairy products, batters, baked emulsions and spreads, breakfast cereals, and bakery goods, sterilized, pasteurized and UHT cream, low-calorie cream and pasteurized low-fat cream. 
Also Ethyl methyl cellulose is used as a tobacco additive.
Ethyl methyl cellulose is approved to use as food additive in EU.

Applications:
Adhesives: 
Wallpaper adhesives 
Latex adhesives 
Plywood adhesives
Binders: 
Welding rods 
Ceramic glaze 
Foundry cores
Coatings: 
Latex paint 
Texture paint
Cosmetics: 
Hair conditioners 
Toothpaste 
Liquid soaps and bubble bath 
Hand creams and lotions
Laundry Aids: 
Fabric finishes 
Aerosol starches 
Liquid cleaners
Miscellaneous: 
Joint cements 
Hydraulic cements 
Plaster Caulking compound and putty Printing inks 
Asphalt emulsions
Paper Coating : 
colors Size press solutions
Pharmaceuticals:
Lotions and emulsions 
Jellies and ointments
Polymerization:    
PVAC and acrylic latices 
PVC suspension
Textiles: 
Latex-back sizes 
Glass-fiber size Printing pastes

Identification
Solubility: Swelling in water, producing a clear to opalescent, viscous, colloidal solution. 
Soluble in ethanol. 
Insoluble in ether
pH: Not less than 5,0 and not more than 8,0 (1 % colloidal solution)
Purity
Loss on drying: Not more than 15 % for the fibrous form, and not more than 10 % for the powdered form (105 °C to constant weight)
Sulphated ash: Not more than 0,6 %
Arsenic: Not more than 3 mg/kg
Lead: Not more than 2 mg/kg
Mercury: Not more than 1 mg/kg
Cadmium: Not more than 1 mg/kg

Product Specification
Packaging Type:Bag
Usage/Application: Lab
Form: Powder
Purity: 98 %
CAS Number: 9004-67-5


E-number: E465
Name: Ethyl methyl cellulose
Function: Thickener, stabiliser.
Foods: Processed potato foods.
Description    
Derived from cellulose, the main component of plant cell walls.

Definition
Ethyl methyl cellulose is a cellulose ether. 
The odourless, yellow powder is insoluble in ethanol.

Field of application/use
Food additive (E 465)
Filler, stabilizer, carrier, thickener
Ethyl methyl cellulose gives liquids a viscous consistency and forms strong gels when heated

Specifications
Density: 1.3900g/mL
Merck Index: 15, 4880
Color: White to Cream
Physical Form: Powder
Infrared Spectrum: Authentic
Loss on Drying: 10% max.
Packaging: Plastic bottle
Solubility: 
Solubility in water: soluble. 
Other solubilities: insoluble in hot water;, soluble in dmf, dmso, ethylene glycol (hot), pyridine;
Insoluble in anhydrous ethanol, diethyl ether, chloroform
Specific Gravity: 1.3

A water-soluble ethyl methyl cellulose, having a flocculation point below 100° C , is manufactured by reacting methyl chloride and a cellulose activated by mercerizing the cellulose with aqueous alkali in the presence of a C2-C3 alkyl chloride as a reaction medium at a temperature from 65° C. to 90° C. and at a pressure from 3 to 15 bar. 
The weight ratio between the cellulose and the C2-C3 alkyl chloride is normally from 1:1 to 1:5. 
The use of the reaction medium makes it possible to produce at a low pressure methyl cellulose ether at a good rate.

Description
White to pale cream-colored solid.
Sources/Uses
Used as emulsifier, stabilizer, and foaming agent.

Features
Thickening Effect
Ethyl methyl cellulose is used very often as a thickener in building applications as Ethyl methyl cellulose prevents segregation and improves the cohesion of the formulation components. 
In dry mix mortar, the thickening power is related to their solution viscosity. 
The addition of Ethyl methyl cellulose imparts excellent stickiness to wet mortar. 
That can significantly increase the adhesion of wet mortar to the base layer and improve the sag resistance of the mortar.

Water Rentention
Ethyl methyl cellulose can effectively prevent too fast and low penetration of water into the base surface in cement-based products, allowing more water to stay in the mortar and participate in the cement hydration reaction. 
Ethyl methyl cellulosehas a stable water retention capacity in a wide temperature range, although changes in ambient temperature will affect its water retention capacity. 
Some special grades of products can still work well in high-temperature environments. 
In gypsum-based and ash-calcium-based products, Ethyl methyl cellulose cellulose ethers also play an important role in ensuring their open time and strength development.

Ethyl methyl cellulose can significantly increase the thixotropic properties of the mortar system, which allows the mortar with excellent anti-sagging ability, thereby improving construction efficiency, especially when building on walls. 
The good sag resistance of the mortar means that there will be no slippage when the mortar is constructed with a considerable thickness; for the tile pasting project, it means that the tiles pasted to the wall will not be displaced due to gravity.


General Properties
Water Solubility
Easily dissolves in cold water.

Non-ionic Charge
Compatible with other ionic and non-ionic additives in aqueous solutions while providing a stable combination with them when dissolved in water.

pH Stability
Stable in the range of pH 3.0~11.0. However, the solubility of MECELLOSE is affected by the presence of acid or alkali.

Organic Solubility
Soluble in some organic solvents and solvent-water.

Suspending Aids
Enhances the stability of suspensions throughout the dissolving process

Surface Activity
Ethyl methyl cellulose has a surfactant property in solution and can act as protective colloid and emulsifier.
 
Thermal Gelation
Ethyl methyl cellulose forms gels when the temperature of its solution rises up to a specific level. 
The gel returns to its original solution state upon cooling.

Film Formation
Stabilizes emulsions in its solution.

Enzyme Resistance
Provides excellent viscosity stability in long-term storage due to its  resistance against fungi and bacteria attacks.

Description
Retarding admixtures, which slow the setting rate of concrete, are used to counteract the accelerating effect of hot weather on concrete setting. 
High temperatures often cause an increased rate of hardening which makes placing and finishing difficult. 
Retarders keep concrete workable during placement and delay the initial set of concrete. 
Most retarders also function as water reducers and may entrain some air in concrete.

Application in pharmaceutical coating processes
Solid dosage forms such as tablets, pellets, pills, beads, spherules, granules and microcapsules are often coated for different reasons such as protection of sensitive drugs from humidity, oxygen and all of inappropriate environmental conditions, protection against acidic or enzymatic degradation of drugs, odor or taste masking or making site or time specific release characteristics in pharmaceuticals to prepare various modified release drug delivery systems such as sustained release, delayed release, extended release, immediate release, pulsatile release or step-by-step release dosage forms.
Both ether and ester derivatives of cellulose are widely used as coating of solid pharmaceuticals. 
Ethyl methyl cellulose are generally hydrophil and convert to hydrogel after exposing to water. 
Although, some of the cellulose ethers e.g. ethyl cellulose are insoluble in water but majority of them such as methyl, hydroxypropyl and hydroxylpropylmethyl cellulose are water soluble. 
Both of soluble and insoluble cellulose ethers can absorb water and form a gel. 
After exposing of these coated dosage forms with water, the coating polymers form to hyrogel and gradually dissolve in water until disappear but the insoluble cellulose ether coatings remain as a viscose gel around tablets and drug release is performed by diffusion of drug molecules within this layer. 
These two types of dosage forms called dissolution-controlled and diffusion-controlled drug delivery systems, respectively. Despite cellulose ethers, the cellulose esters are generally water insoluble or water soluble in a distinct pH range. 
These polymers like cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) and cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) do not form gel in presence of water and they are widely used for preparing of pH sensitive and semi-permeable micro-porous membranes. 
These membranes are employed for wide variety of controlled release coating of pharmaceuticals especially in enteric or osmotic drug delivery devices. 
These polymers are benefited to make different cellulosic membrane filters applied in pharmaceutical industries.

Introduction
Ethyl methyl cellulose is a natural polymer materials of cellulose as raw material, through a series of chemical processing and made of non-ionic cellulose ether. 
Ethyl methyl cellulose has many features including water soluble, water retention, PH stability, surface activity, temperature reversible gel, thickening, adhesion and film forming and lubricity

Property
Appearance:
Ethyl methyl cellulose is a white to light yellow powder or granular product.

Solubility:
Ethyl methyl cellulose is nearly insoluble in anhydrous ethanol, ethyl ether and acetone. 
Ethyl methyl cellulose is swelled in cold water to form a transparent or a slight cloudy solution. 
Ethyl methyl cellulose can be dissolved into some organic solvents and also in water-organic solvent mixed solvents.

Fineness(Graininess):The oversize product above 100 mesh should not exceed 5.0%.

With reduction of methoxyl groups content,Ethyl methyl cellulose is increased in gelling temperature and decreased in water solubility and surface activity.

Application
Thermal insulation mortar, ceramic tile adhesive, jointing agent, stucco gypsum, plaster;
Paint thickening agent, dispersing agent and stabilizer;
Ink industry as the thickening agent, dispersing agent and stabilizer;
Plastic forming mold release agent, softener, lubricants;
Cement, gypsum secondary products;
Shampoo, detergent;
Packaging and Storage


Store it in a cool, dry place below 30°C and protected against humidity and pressing, since the goods is thermoplastic, storage time should not exceed six months.

Transport
Handle with care to avoid breakage when moving. Keep from moisture when transporting. 
Ethyl methyl cellulose is non-toxic, non-irritating, no-combustible.

Safety information
To avoid the different formulation and different raw materials, please do more testing before using Ethyl methyl cellulose.

Although the cellulose contains many hydrophilic hydroxyl groups, it will not dissolve in water.
This is because hydroxyl groups are creating strong intermolecular hydrogen bondings, thus forming crystal structures preventing water from flowing into the interval between cellulose molecules.
During the etherfication stage, some hydrogen atoms of the hydroxyl groups of cellulose are replaced by substituents such as methyl groups (-CH3), hydroxypropyl groups (-CH2CHOHCH3), or hydroxyethyl groups (-CH2CH2OH), and these substituents cancel the intermolecular hydrogen bondings to make Ethyl methyl cellulose water-soluble.

Is ethyl methyl cellulose high in histamine?
Ethyl Methyl Cellulose is likely suitable for a low histamine diet. 
Ethyl Methyl Cellulose is likely low in histamine and other amines and does not trigger release of the body’s natural histamine.

What’s the Uses of Ethyl methyl cellulose?
As a polysaccharide and cellulose derivative, the uses of Ethyl methyl cellulose is wide. 
Ethyl methyl cellulose is a non-caloric indigestible edible fiber in humans and can be used in food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and other industries.

Food
Ethyl methyl cellulose's food grade has wide uses for its thermal gelation, lubricity, stabilizing the emulsion, preventing syneresis and so on.

Bakery
Gas retention during baking, provides freeze/thaw stability, improve emulsion stability, increases crumb softness, prolong shelf life.

Confectionary
Ethyl methyl cellulose can be used as a lubricant for easy application, also provides creamier texture, improve spreadability and clean flavor release in glazes, icings and coatings.

Frozen dessert
Controlling ice crystal formation, provide smooth texture as well as stabilize emulsification such as in ice cream.

Fried products
Ethyl methyl cellulose gels when fried (at high temperature) and therefore make the structure and reduces oil intake which benefits vegetarians.

Other food products
Ethyl methyl cellulose can also be used in other products, such as in toppings, salad dressing, sauces to stabilize the emulsion and extend the shelf life. 
Ethyl methyl cellulose can also function as a bulking agent in jellies, syrups and gums to provide fiber content without increasing available energy value.

Cosmetics
Per “European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients”, ethyl methyl cellulose can work as a binding, emulsion stabilising, stabilising, and viscosity controlling agent in cosmetic and personal care products. 

Pharmaceuticals
Excipient
Methylcellulose can be used as an excipient in most forms of pharmaceutical products such as powders, granules, inhalants, (film) tablets, dragées, ointments, creams, gels or liquids. 
It functions as a dry binder in the tableting process to improve compressibility, also serves as a binder or a thickening and gelling agent in wet granulation.

OTHER DETAILS
Dietary Attributes:
Plant-Based, Gluten-Free, Non-GMO, Kosher (OU), Keto-friendly
Allergen(s):
None

Product Specifications
Appearance: white or off-white powder
Moisture: ≤5 %
Ash: ≤5 %
Methoxy content: 19-24 %
Hydroxypropyl content: 4-12 %
pH value: 6-8
Viscosity: 400-75,000 mPa.s (Brookfield RV, 2%)

Applications
Tile adhesives
Wall putty/skim coat
Gypsum Plasters
Joint fillers
Waterproofing mortars
Self-leveling compounds

Advantages
Improved adhesivestrength and flexibility, reducing the risk of splitting under expansion and contraction.
Good water retention and extended working time.
Optimized product consistency and rheology.
Improved adhesion and sliding resistance. 

Synonyms
Methylethylcellulose
Ethyl methyl ether of cellulose
E465
INS No. 465
Celacol EM
Cellofas A
Cellofas WLD 
Cellulose, ethyl methyl ether
Edifas A
Edifas grade "A"

  • Share !
E-NEWSLETTER