Patent ID: 7005514

Claim:
A process for producing microcrystalline cellulose, said process comprising the steps of: a) contacting a paper grade pulp with an alkali hydrolysis agent at a temperature ranging from about 25 to about 70° C. and at an alkali hydrolysis agent concentration of at least about 30 weight percent based on the weight of said pulp to alkali hydrolyzed pulp; b) washing said hydrolyzed pulp to remove excess alkali hydrolysis agent and recovering a washed alkali hydrolyzed pulp; c) contacting said washed alkali hydrolyzed pulp with an acid hydrolysis agent at a temperature of least about 80° C. and at an acid hydrolysis agent concentration ranging from about 25 to about 75 weight percent based on the weight of said washed alkali hydrolyzed pulp to produce an acid hydrolyzed pulp; and d) washing said aid hydrolyzed pulp to remove excess said hydrolysis agent and recovering a washed acid hydrolyzed pulp comprising microcrystalline cellulose.