The treatments using H2SO4 (40% and above) at ambient temperature, resulted in surface carbonization with gradual solubilisation (complete or partial) of the fibre. However, for concentration of 30% and below for H2SO4, the fibres resist the treatment for 1 h without any surface carbonization. The action of HCl was milder than H2SO4, which shows no surface carbonization under the treatment conditions. However, both the treatments made the fibre brittle during storage even after alkali neutralization, probably due to hydrolysis of cellulose polymers by the acids (breakage of the -1,4-glycosidic bonds of cellulose)