Changes in the basic powder properties of low-crystallinity powder cellulose (LCPC) as a function of the agitation rate used during its generation from phosphoric acid were investigated. We reacted cotton linter with phosphoric acid (85% w/v) at room temperature for an hour and then at 50 degreesC for 3 h to produce the LCPC solution. The latter was slowly added to water (ca. 10 times the volume of phosphoric acid used) at a constant agitation rate of 700, 2000, or 4000 rpm. LCPC powder thus formed was collected by filtration, washed with water and acetone, and dried at 30 degreesC. Scanning electron micrographs showed the three products to be highly aggregated in structure. The crystallinities of LCPC prepared at 700, 2000, and 4000 rpm were 39, 31, and 24%, respectively. The crystalline component of LCPC produced at 700 and 2000 rpm contained both cellulose II (major component) and cellulose I (minor component), whereas LCPC generated at 4000 rpm belonged to the cellulose II crystal lattice. The porosity and true, bulk, and tap densities of LCPC made at 4000 rpm were 88.55% and 1.435, 0.138, and 0.164 g/cc, respectively. The corresponding values for LCPC made at 700 and 2000 rpm were 60.30% and 1.452, 0.541, and 0.576 g/cc and 54.49% and 1.465, 0.583, and 0.667 g/cc, respectively. Avicel (R) PH-101, in contrast, had a degree of crystallinity of 89% and a true density value of 1.577 g/cc. The porosity, bulk density, and tap density values were intermediate to those of LCPC made at 4000 rpm and 700 or 2000 rpm.