Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was extracted from agriculture residue of sugarcane bagasses by pretreatment under alkaline peroxide and acid hydrolysis treatment, successively, and it was further modified into sulfonated cellulose (SC). The SC was synthesized by oxidizing MCC with sodium periodate (NaIO4) in the dark condition to create dialdehyde cellulose (DAC), followed by sulfonation reaction with potassium bisulfite (KH2SO3). The ratio of MCC:NaIO4 was investigated in the first step of modification. The oxidative product was received from the ratio of MCC:NaIO4 1:1. Its FT-IR spectrum of oxidized cellulose clearly indicated the formation of dialdehyde cellulose after oxidation reaction which appeared at 890 cm-1. After that, the sulfonic acid content in subsequent sulfonation step was applied to dialdehyde cellulose in six levels. sulfonic acid contents, surface morphology, and water solubility property of these treated celluloses were characterized.Scanning electron microscopy showed a significant change from smooth surface of MCC to rough surface of SCs. The number-average molecular weight (Mn), the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) and the polydispersity index (PDI) of these SCs were determined via gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Accordingly, the molecular weight of cellulose was remarkably increased during the sulfonation compared to that of the starting material indicated the addition of sulfonic acid group to the cellulose chain through oxidation/sulfonation reaction. The use of high amount of sulfonic acid agent led to strong increment of the Mn and Mw in comparison to low amount of sulfonic acid agent. Finally, the solubility of SC in water and structural characterization of the solubilized SCs will be carried out by means of 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, respectively.