Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na) is an important water-soluble polymer compound, widely used in food, medicine, daily chemicals, petroleum and other industries. In order to ensure its stable quality during storage and use, correct storage conditions are essential.

1. Storage temperature
Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose should be stored in a dry, cool and well-ventilated environment. The storage temperature should be kept at room temperature, and the recommended temperature range is usually 15℃ to 30℃. Too high a temperature may cause degradation or performance degradation of CMC, while too low a temperature may affect its solubility and use effect. Therefore, stable temperature control is very important to ensure the quality of sodium CMC.

2. Humidity control
Sodium CMC has a strong hygroscopicity for water, and a high humidity environment will cause its quality problems, including agglomeration, adhesion or decreased solubility. To avoid this, the relative humidity of the storage environment should be controlled between 45% and 75%. Excessive humidity will cause sodium CMC to absorb moisture and deteriorate, and even affect its appearance and use effect, so it is necessary to keep the environment dry. For some specific specifications of CMC, it may be necessary to further reduce humidity, or even use air conditioning and dehumidification equipment to ensure a dry storage environment.

3. Avoid light
CMC sodium should be protected from direct sunlight, especially when ultraviolet rays are strong. Light can cause chemical degradation of CMC, resulting in changes in molecular structure, thereby reducing its function. It should be stored in a cool place as much as possible, and opaque packaging bags or barrels should be used to avoid light exposure.

4. Ventilation conditions
The storage environment should maintain good ventilation to prevent moisture accumulation. Good ventilation conditions can effectively reduce moisture accumulation, prevent the storage environment from being humid, and ensure the quality of CMC sodium. In addition, good ventilation can also prevent harmful gases in the air from affecting the product. Therefore, it is very important to choose a well-ventilated location for storage when designing or selecting a warehouse.

5. Avoid contamination
During storage, contamination by impurities, including dust, oil, chemicals, etc., must be prevented. Especially when storing large quantities of CMC, ensure the integrity of the packaging container to prevent impurities from entering, thereby affecting the purity and performance of CMC. To avoid contamination, packaging materials should be food-grade or pharmaceutical-grade containers, and the storage place should be kept clean and pollution-free.

6. Packaging requirements
In order to ensure the quality of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, the requirements for packaging during storage are also very strict. Common packaging forms are plastic bags, paper bags, cartons or plastic barrels, and there are often dehumidifiers or moisture absorbers in the bags to keep them dry. The packaging should ensure that the seal is complete to prevent the entry of air moisture. In general, the raw materials should be stored in the original packaging to avoid long-term exposure to the air after opening, which may lead to moisture absorption, agglomeration or deterioration.

7. Storage period
Under appropriate storage conditions, the shelf life of sodium CMC is generally 1-2 years. After the storage period, although it may not be completely ineffective, its performance will gradually decline, especially the key performance indicators such as solubility and viscosity may decline. In order to ensure the best use of sodium CMC, it is recommended to use it according to the expiration date indicated on the production batch, and try to consume it within the expiration date.

8. Prevent contact with incompatible substances
During storage, sodium CMC should avoid contact with chemicals such as strong acids, strong alkalis and oxidants, as these substances will have an adverse effect on the structure of CMC, resulting in its performance degradation or destruction. In particular, avoid contact with corrosive gases (such as chlorine, ammonia, etc.), which may cause CMC to decompose or functionally impair. Therefore, CMC should be avoided from being mixed with other chemicals or placed in an environment where chemical reactions may occur.

9. Pay attention to fire prevention
Although sodium carboxymethyl cellulose itself is not a flammable substance, its polymer structure can have a certain degree of flammability under dry conditions. Therefore, when storing CMC, it should be kept away from open flames and high temperature sources to ensure that the warehouse meets fire safety requirements. If necessary, fire extinguishing facilities such as fire extinguishers can be set up in the warehouse so that timely response can be made in case of emergency.

10. Transportation and handling
During transportation and handling, avoid severe vibration, falling and heavy pressure, which will affect the quality of sodium CMC. Use special transportation tools and vehicles to ensure that its packaging is intact, and avoid adverse weather conditions such as high temperature and humidity that affect the materials during transportation. Minimize storage time during transportation to ensure stable product quality.

Storage of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose requires strict control of environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, light and ventilation. Reasonable storage and packaging measures can maximize the shelf life of sodium CMC and ensure stable quality. In actual operation, storage management should be carried out in accordance with relevant standards and guidelines in combination with specific applications and production needs, so as to play its important role in various industries.