The dissolution process and some solution properties of cellulose in mixtures of lithium chloride (LiCl) and iV, jY-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) are discussed. Dilute solution properties were measured by viscometry, low-angle laser light scattering and quasi-elastic light scattering. The following Mark-Houwink-Sakurada (MHS) equation and the relationshipbetween the intrinsic viscosityand the z-average radius of gyration (S2), 1''2 were established:[77]=(1.278 X10-4) Afw119 (cm3/g) and (S2) 21/2=(6.48 X 10-1) MW0, 74 (cm) for cellulose in 9% LiCl/DMAc at 30 C. On the basis of the light-scattering and viscosity data, the conformation parameter a= 6.71, the characteristic ratio

= 91.9, andthe persistence length q= 252 x 10-8 (cm) were calculated. Estimations of the MHS equationand the chain dimensions reveal that the LiCl/DMAc solvent greatly enhances the stiffness of the cellulose backbone. Liquid crystalline behavior is observed for solutionsat the solubility limit (~ 15%) by the appearance of an anisotropic phase induced by shearing.