40g of MCC was added into a beaker containing 400ml 63% (w/w) H2 SO4 aqueous solution and stirred with 500 rpm at 45 ◦ C for 2 h. Then, the pH of the suspension was adjusted to 7.0 with sodium hydroxide aqueous solution (3.0 mol L−1 ), after five washings with water, the product was dried with a freeze-dryer (LGJ-10C, Beijing Sihuan Scientific Instruments Co. Ltd., Beijing, China) at −30 ◦ C for 48 h and referred to as acid hydrolyzed MCC (AHMCC)