the supermolecular structure of cellulosic pulp plays an important role in its alkaline degradation behaviour. in spite of the well-known compact, ordered and less accessible supermolecular structure of cotton cellulose, it has greater susceptibility to alkaline oxidative degradation than bagasse cellulose. bagasse kraft pulp undergoes inter-crystalline swelling followed by oxidative degradation which is mostly restricted to the amorphous domains of the fibre. however, in the case of cotton linter the degradation takes place through intracrystalline swelling. in this case the reactant penetrates the crystallites and stronger degradation takes place. the extent of degradation depends upon the structure of the original cellulose. intracrystalline degradation is more efficient than the intercrystalline degradation in cellulose decrystallization the purity of the pulp and good hydrolytic attack affect the fibril structure which strongly influences its reactivity towards xanthation. (author abstract) 3 refs