Assessment of mixing parameters to achieve stable sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) solutions at vaeying ionic strengths of NaCl

The effect of mixing parameters on sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) solutions was studied using three mixing systems. The first utilized a predominantly shear mixer (Ross), the second utilized a predominantly flow mixer (Heller), and the third utilized a combination of the two. It was discovered that the most effective system was the combination of the two mixers. A wide range of solutions was examined, with CMC concentrations ranging from 5 to 21 grams/liter. Salt concentrations were also varied from solutions with no salt to 2.5M NaCl solutions. Based on this data, CMC was found to behave as predicted by the Einstein viscosity equation. The effects of different impellers (Heller mixer), extended mixing times, the time of addition of salt to the polymer solution, and autoclaving were also explored