Purified cellulosic materials suitable for the production of cellulose esters can be prepared from waste cotton (carding waste from textile mill). The most desirable conditions in purifying waste cotton were obtained. Waxy materials were removed by boiling in 2-3% soda ash solution for more than 30 minutes in open vessel at atmospheric pressure. As for bleaching, it is desirable to use the bleaching powder solution containing 1%, available chlorine for 60 minutes at 35 deg. C. Purified cellulosic material was acetylated to fibrous cellulose triacetate, which was fractionated in the solution of 70% monochloroacetic acid using water as a precipitant, and the degree of polymerizaion and molecular weight of each fraction were measured viscometrically, thereon, molecular weight distribution curve was drawn. Analyzing the shape of this curve, most of the polymers were concentrated on the part of higher degree of polymerization. Purified waste cotton was also analysed, the result was that this cellulosic material can be used as a raw material for cellulose esters and ethers.