In order to purify and obtain high content α-cellulose and increase its reactivity
the natural wheat-straw was modified and treated by steam explosion. The treated cellulose from natural wheat-straw was alkalized and ethered to obtain carboxymetholcel(CMC). It is concluded that natural wheat-straw can be used as raw material for preparing CMC instead of cotton. Steam Explosion(SE) was an efficient method for natural wheat-straw pretreatment.