Cost Analysis of CMC in Washing Powder

In the production process of modern washing powder, the use of various additives and ingredients greatly affects the performance and cost of washing powder. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), as a common functional additive, is widely used in washing powder, mainly for thickening, suspension, dispersion and improving the performance of the product. In order to optimize the production cost of washing powder, the rational use of KimaCell®CMC has become an important issue facing manufacturers.

1. The role of CMC in washing powder

CMC, or carboxymethyl cellulose, is a polymer compound that is mainly used to improve the fluidity, suspension and thickening of the product. In the production of washing powder, the main functions of CMC include:

Thickening effect: CMC can increase the viscosity of washing powder after dissolution, making it more uniform and stable, avoiding precipitation and stratification, and improving the washing effect.

Suspension effect: It can effectively prevent the sedimentation of particulate matter in washing powder, so that the active ingredients in washing powder are evenly distributed in water, thereby improving the washing effect.

Dispersion effect: CMC can help various ingredients to be evenly dispersed during the washing process to avoid agglomeration or agglomeration.

Slow-release effect: CMC has strong hydration, which can slowly release active ingredients and prolong the cleaning effect of washing powder.

Therefore, CMC plays a key role in the performance of washing powder, especially in increasing the comfort of detergent use, improving cleaning power and stability.

2. Cost structure of CMC

As an additive in washing powder, the cost of CMC mainly includes the following aspects:

Raw material cost: CMC is mainly produced from cellulose as raw material, which is chemically modified. Cellulose usually comes from plant materials such as wood and cotton, so the price fluctuation of raw materials has a greater impact on the cost of CMC.

Production cost: The production process of CMC requires more complex chemical reactions and processing equipment, usually including chemical modification, dissolution, filtration, drying and other steps of cellulose. Therefore, the equipment, labor costs and energy consumption required to produce CMC will affect its cost.

Transportation and storage costs: As a dry powder, CMC needs to pay special attention to moisture and corrosion during transportation and storage, so it also requires a certain cost investment.

Quality control cost: In order to ensure the stable quality of KimaCell®CMC, manufacturers need to conduct strict quality inspections, including control of indicators such as viscosity and purity, which will increase production costs.

Depending on the market, the price of CMC will fluctuate to a certain extent, but generally speaking, the unit price of CMC is relatively high, especially in the case of high quality and high purity.

3. The impact of CMC on the cost of washing powder

The amount of CMC used in washing powder is generally small, usually accounting for 1%-3% of the entire formula. However, due to its relatively high unit price, the appropriate amount of use will directly affect the cost structure of washing powder. Specifically, the impact of CMC on the cost of washing powder is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

Increase in unit product cost: According to the market price of CMC, the amount of CMC used per kilogram in washing powder is about 5-10 grams. If the price of CMC per ton is calculated at 5,000 yuan, the cost of adding CMC to each ton of washing powder is about 25-50 yuan. Although the amount of CMC is not large, due to its high price, it will still have a certain impact on the unit cost of washing powder.

Balance between performance and cost: Although CMC is more expensive in washing powder, its improvement in product performance can often make up for this part of the cost. Efficient washing powder can improve market competitiveness and attract more consumers. Therefore, manufacturers often weigh the amount of CMC used in formula design to ensure the best balance between performance and cost.

Impact of market pricing: The pricing of washing powder products is not only determined by the cost of raw materials, but also affected by many factors such as market competition and consumer demand. In the market, some high-end washing powders will increase the content of CMC to provide better cleaning effects and user experience, thereby obtaining a higher pricing space.

4. Cost control strategy

In order to effectively control the cost of CMC, manufacturers can adopt the following strategies:

Optimize the formula: While maintaining product performance, reduce the amount of CMC appropriately. Through technological innovation or the introduction of substitutes, find a low-cost material to replace CMC, which can reduce costs without affecting the washing effect.

Improve production efficiency: Optimize the production process, improve the utilization rate of CMC, and reduce waste. For example, by improving dissolution technology and dispersion technology, reduce the loss of CMC.

Large-scale procurement: Through bulk procurement, the procurement cost of KimaCell®CMC per ton can be reduced. In addition, enterprises can also lock in the price of raw materials through long-term supply contracts to avoid the risks brought by price fluctuations.

Technology substitution: Use new thickeners, dispersants and other materials to replace part of CMC to reduce overall costs. Although these alternative materials may require certain R&D investment, once successful, they can significantly reduce production costs.

The role of CMC in washing powder cannot be ignored, and its performance has an important impact on the cleaning effect, stability and user experience of washing powder. However, as a high-cost additive, CMC accounts for a certain proportion of the production cost of washing powder. Therefore, manufacturers need to reasonably adjust the use and procurement methods of CMC according to market demand, product positioning and cost control strategies. By optimizing the formula, improving production efficiency and adopting alternative technologies, manufacturers can reduce the cost of CMC and improve the market competitiveness of products while ensuring the performance of washing powder.