Samples of oxidized cellulose (OC) with various carboxyl contents and degrees of crystallinity were obtained by the oxidation of native and mercerized cellulose with a solution of nitrogen(IV) oxide in CCl4. A detailed characterization of these OC samples was performed. The effect of oxidation conditions (concentration of N2O4 in the solution and oxidation time) and starting cellulose material on OC characteristics (carboxyl, carbonyl and nitrogen content, degree of crystallinity and polymerization, surface area and swelling, and acidic properties) was investigated. Reactivity in the oxidation process was higher in mercerized cellulose than in native cellulose. The action of dilute solutions (10-15%) of N2O4 did not affect the degree of crystallinity of cellulose samples. Under these conditions, the oxidation took place mainly in amorphous regions and on the surface of crystallites. Oxidation in a concentrated (40%) N2O4 solution led to the destruction of crystallites, which increased the surface area and swelling of cellulose in water. The surface area and the swelling of OC samples increased with a decrease in the index of crystallinity. The acidic properties of OC were shown to increase with an increase of swelling in water. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.