
CMC · Food & beverage
Food-Grade CMC
Cellulose gum (E466) to GB 1886.232-2016 — thickener, stabiliser and protein protector.
- Purity (dry basis)
- ≥ 99.5 %
- pH (1 % solution)
- 6.5 – 8.5
- Chloride (as NaCl)
- ≤ 0.5 %
- Sodium glycolate
- ≤ 0.4 %
- Loss on drying
- ≤ 8.0 %
- Arsenic (As)
- ≤ 2.0 mg/kg
Common to all grades
[01]Overview
Sentai food-grade sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (cellulose gum, INS 466 / E466) is produced and released against China's national food-additive standard GB 1886.232-2016: ≥ 99.5 % purity, arsenic and lead each ≤ 2 mg/kg, and pathogen-free microbiology. Type 6 grades (DS 0.75–0.90) serve general thickening; Type 9 grades (DS ≥ 0.90) add the acid and salt tolerance needed to stabilise protein in acidified milk drinks.
- Typical dosage
- 0.1 – 0.5 % of the formulation (typical starting point — optimise in your process)
- HS code
- 3912.31
- Standard
- GB 1886.232-2016
What it does
- 01Thickens and builds body without masking flavour
- 02Stabilises casein in acidified milk drinks and yoghurt beverages (Type 9)
- 03Controls ice-crystal growth and meltdown in ice cream
- 04Retains moisture and extends shelf life in bakery and noodles
[02]Grades & specifications
13 grades
Values are specification limits. Typical values and test methods are on the full TDS (Customer Portal or on request).
| Grade | Viscosity · mPa·s | DS | Purity % | pH | Moisture % | NaCl % | Spec sheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FL6AType 6 · low viscosity | 25–400 @2% | 0.75–0.9 | ≥ 99.5 | 6.5–8.5 | ≤ 8 | ≤ 0.5 | Spec sheet → |
| FM6AType 6 · medium viscosity | 400–2000 @2% | 0.75–0.9 | ≥ 99.5 | 6.5–8.5 | ≤ 8 | ≤ 0.5 | Spec sheet → |
| FH6AType 6 · high viscosity | 200–500 @1% | 0.75–0.9 | ≥ 99.5 | 6.5–8.5 | ≤ 8 | ≤ 0.5 | Spec sheet → |
| FVH6A-1Type 6 · very high viscosity | 500–2000 @1% | 0.75–0.9 | ≥ 99.5 | 6.5–8.5 | ≤ 8 | ≤ 0.5 | Spec sheet → |
| FVH6A-2Type 6 · very high viscosity | 2000–5000 @1% | 0.75–0.9 | ≥ 99.5 | 6.5–8.5 | ≤ 8 | ≤ 0.5 | Spec sheet → |
| FVH6A-3Type 6 · ultra-high viscosity | ≥ 5000 @1% | 0.75–0.9 | ≥ 99.5 | 6.5–8.5 | ≤ 8 | ≤ 0.5 | Spec sheet → |
| FL9AType 9 · acid-stable · low viscosity | 25–400 @2% | ≥ 0.9 | ≥ 99.5 | 6.5–8.5 | ≤ 8 | ≤ 0.5 | Spec sheet → |
| FM9AType 9 · acid-stable · medium viscosity | 400–2000 @2% | ≥ 0.9 | ≥ 99.5 | 6.5–8.5 | ≤ 8 | ≤ 0.5 | Spec sheet → |
| FH9AType 9 · acidified milk drinks | 200–500 @1% | ≥ 0.9 | ≥ 99.5 | 6.5–8.5 | ≤ 8 | ≤ 0.5 | Spec sheet → |
| FVH9A-1Type 9 · very high viscosity | 500–2000 @1% | ≥ 0.9 | ≥ 99.5 | 6.5–8.5 | ≤ 8 | ≤ 0.5 | Spec sheet → |
| FVH9A-2Type 9 · very high viscosity | 2000–4000 @1% | ≥ 0.9 | ≥ 99.5 | 6.5–8.5 | ≤ 8 | ≤ 0.5 | Spec sheet → |
| FVH9A-3Type 9 · ultra-high viscosity | ≥ 4000 @1% | ≥ 0.9 | ≥ 99.5 | 6.5–8.5 | ≤ 8 | ≤ 0.5 | Spec sheet → |
| FL10AHigh DS · maximum acid stability | 25–400 @2% | ≥ 1 | ≥ 99.5 | 6.5–8.5 | ≤ 8 | ≤ 0.5 | Spec sheet → |
Common to all grades
- Purity (dry basis)
- ≥ 99.5 %
- pH (1 % solution)
- 6.5 – 8.5
- Chloride (as NaCl)
- ≤ 0.5 %
- Sodium glycolate
- ≤ 0.4 %
- Loss on drying
- ≤ 8.0 %
- Arsenic (As)
- ≤ 2.0 mg/kg
- Lead (Pb)
- ≤ 2.0 mg/kg
- Total plate count
- ≤ 500 cfu/g
- Moulds & yeasts
- ≤ 100 cfu/g
- E. coli · Salmonella · S. aureus
- Not detected
Viscosity windows
Brookfield viscosity, mPa·s, 25 °C — log scale
Grade map
Each bubble is a grade: degree of substitution on the horizontal axis, minimum purity on the vertical, bubble size by viscosity.
Product photos
The real product.
[03]Applications
Food & beverage
- Ice cream and frozen desserts
- Acidified milk drinks, plant-protein beverages, juices
- Sauces, dressings, soups, condiments
- Bakery fillings, cakes, instant noodles, jelly
[04]Selection guide
Which grade?
- Type 6 (DS 0.75–0.90) — neutral-pH foods: ice cream, sauces, bakery, noodles.
- Type 9 (DS ≥ 0.90) and FL10A (DS ≥ 1.0) — acidified protein drinks, high-salt or low-pH systems.
- FL/FM — low/medium viscosity (2 % solution); FH/FVH — high/very-high viscosity (1 % solution).
[05]Packaging & supply
Packed for export.

- Packaging
- 25 kg kraft-composite or PP woven bag with food-grade PE liner · 500 kg / 1 t jumbo bags
- Palletising
- 40 bags = 1 t per pallet, fumigation-free plywood, stretch-wrapped
- Container load
- 20′ GP ≈ 17–20 t · 40′ HQ ≈ 25–28 t
- MOQ
- 1 t for industrial grades · battery grade negotiable
- Lead time
- 7–15 days (stock grades) · 20–30 days (custom)
- Samples
- Free 100–300 g samples, courier collect
- Payment
- T/T 30% deposit, 70% against B/L copy · L/C · D/P
- Incoterms
- FOB · CFR · CIF · EXW
- Documents
- COA · TDS · MSDS/SDS · CO · Form A · Form E
- Inspection
- Customer-appointed SGS / BV inspection accepted
- Port of loading
- Guangzhou — other South China ports on request
[06]FAQ
Food CMC
What is the difference between Type 6 and Type 9 food CMC?+
The number reflects the degree of substitution. Type 6 (DS 0.75–0.90) is the economical thickener for neutral foods. Type 9 (DS ≥ 0.90) carries more carboxymethyl groups, so it stays soluble and protective at low pH — the requirement for acidified milk drinks.
Which standard does Sentai food-grade CMC meet?+
GB 1886.232-2016, China's national food-safety standard for sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, including purity, sodium glycolate, heavy metals and microbiological limits. Contact us for the certificate of analysis and the regulatory documents your market requires.
Can you supply Halal or Kosher documentation?+
Please tell us your destination market and certification requirement when you request a quotation; our export team will confirm the documentation available for the grade you select.
Qualify it in your process.
Free 100–300 g samples with COA, shipped within days. Tell us your formulation and target viscosity — our applications lab will suggest the closest grade.
Related product families
Products
ST
Battery-Grade CMC
≥ 99.5 % purity anode binder & dispersant for graphite and silicon-carbon electrodes.
R
Instant CMC
Surface-treated CMC that disperses lump-free and reaches full viscosity fast — DS ≥ 0.95.
PAC
Oil-Drilling PAC & CMC
Fluid-loss control and viscosity in fresh water to saturated brine — tested to GB/T 5005.
P
Paper-Grade CMC
Wet-end, surface sizing and coating colour CMC — viscosity tuned from 7 to 600 mPa·s.
Insights
Related
GuideSep 22, 2026 · 8 min read
How to Read a CMC Spec Sheet: Degree of Substitution vs Viscosity vs Purity
What DS, viscosity and purity really tell you about a sodium CMC grade, why 1 % and 2 % Brookfield viscosities cannot be converted, and how DS drives salt tolerance, acid stability and clarity.
GuideAug 18, 2026 · 7 min read
Type 6 vs Type 9 Food-Grade CMC: Stabilising Acidified Milk Drinks, Ice Cream and Sauces
How DS separates Type 6 and Type 9 cellulose gum (E466), how CMC stabilises casein in acidified milk drinks at pH 3.8–4.6, and the GB 1886.232-2016 and JECFA limits food-grade CMC must meet.
GuideOct 10, 2026 · 8 min read
How to Choose Battery-Grade CMC for Lithium-ion Anodes: The Specifications That Matter
A practical guide to specifying battery-grade CMC: purity, chloride, DS, viscosity window versus slurry solids, gel count, fibre class, particle size and moisture, plus test methods and an incoming-inspection checklist.