This work reports that cellulose laurate could be directly produced by mechanical activation-strengthened solid phase synthesis (MASPS) in a customized stirring mill with using bagasse pulp and lauric acid as materials in an environmentally friendly way. Cellulose laurates with different degree of substitution were obtained under different synthesis conditions without the use of organic co-reagents and solvents. The characterization results showed that cellulose laurates had great changes in surface morphologies and crystal structures compared with bagasse pulp because of the intense milling and introduction of laurate groups, but still retained the cellulose I crystalline form of the native cellulose. MASPS could be considered as a simple, efficient and green method for the production of long chain cellulose esters. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.