The selection of cellulose ethers in hand sanitizers needs to consider many factors, including its thickening performance, transparency, stability, biocompatibility and price.

1. Thickening performance
Methylcellulose (MC)
Methylcellulose is a common cellulose ether with good thickening effect and can provide the required viscosity at a lower concentration. Its thickening performance is less affected by temperature and is suitable for a variety of hand sanitizer formulations.

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)
Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose has better thickening performance than methylcellulose, especially in systems with high concentrations of surfactants. In addition, HPMC has strong adaptability to temperature and can maintain a stable thickening effect over a wide temperature range.

Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC)
Hydroxyethyl cellulose has excellent thickening properties and is especially suitable for hand sanitizers with high transparency requirements. Its thickening effect is more obvious and has good tolerance to pH changes.

2. Transparency
Transparency is a key quality indicator for many hand sanitizers, especially the increasing demand for transparent or translucent hand sanitizers in the market. When selecting cellulose ethers, make sure they can form a transparent solution in aqueous solution.

HPMC and HEC
HPMC and HEC excel in transparency and can form highly transparent solutions in water. They are suitable for hand sanitizer formulations that require high transparency and provide a good look and feel.

3. Stability
Hand sanitizers typically contain a variety of ingredients, including surfactants, fragrances, moisturizers, etc., which may affect the stability of cellulose ethers. When selecting cellulose ethers, make sure they can remain stable in complex formulations.

HPMC
HPMC has good stability under different pH and temperature conditions and is suitable for many types of hand sanitizer formulations. It is also stable in systems with high concentrations of surfactants and electrolytes.

HEC
HEC has good chemical stability and is suitable for hand sanitizer formulations with high concentrations of electrolytes and surfactants. It is stable in both acidic and alkaline environments and is a reliable thickener.

4. Biocompatibility
As a personal care product, the safety and biocompatibility of hand sanitizer ingredients are very important. Cellulose ethers generally have good biocompatibility and do not cause skin allergies or irritation.

HPMC and HEC
Both HPMC and HEC have good biocompatibility and are widely used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. They do not irritate the skin and are suitable for hand sanitizer formulations for people with sensitive skin.

5. Price
Price is also an important factor to consider when choosing cellulose ethers. The prices of different types of cellulose ethers vary greatly, and they need to be selected according to specific needs and budgets.

MC
MC has a relatively low price and is suitable for hand sanitizer formulations with high cost control requirements. Although its performance is not as good as HPMC and HEC, it can still meet basic needs in many applications.

HPMC and HEC
HPMC and HEC have relatively high prices, but their performance is superior and suitable for high-end hand sanitizer formulations. If the budget allows, choosing HPMC or HEC can significantly improve product quality and user experience.

Choosing a suitable cellulose ether requires comprehensive consideration of factors such as thickening performance, transparency, stability, biocompatibility and price. Methylcellulose (MC) has a low price and is suitable for basic formulations; hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) have superior performance and are suitable for high-end hand sanitizers. Reasonable selection of cellulose ether according to specific needs and budget can improve the quality and market competitiveness of hand sanitizer.