Compositions useful for making lyoc

Compositions useful for making lyocell fibres or film can be made from any suitable source of cellulose andhemicellulose but are preferably made from a chemical wood pulp, more preferably from a Kraft softwood pulp, mostpreferably from a bleached, Kraft softwood pulp, which is treated to reduce the average D.P. of the cellulose withoutsubstantially reducing the hemicellulose content. Compositions include at least 7% by weight hemicellulose, preferablyfrom 7% by weight to 30% by weight hemicellulose, more preferably from 7% by weight to 20% by weight hemicellulose,most preferably from 10% by weight to 17% by weight hemicellulose, and cellulose having an average D.P. of from 200to 1100, preferably from 300 to 1100, and more preferably from 400 to 700. A presently preferred composition of thepresent invention has a hemicellulose content of from 10% by weight to 17% by weight, and contains cellulose havingan average D.P. of from 400 to 700. Hemicellulose content is measured by a proprietary Weyerhaeuser sugar contentassay. Further, the compositions have a kappa number of less than 2, preferably less than 1. Most preferably thecompositions contain no detectable lignin. Lignin content is measured using TAPPI Test T236om85.