A cost-effective process suitable for the commercial production of the sugar acetate, glucose penta-acetate and xylose tetra-acetate is disclosed. The process comprises a first reaction stage wherein glucose or xylose is partially acetylated with acetic acid to form glucose diacetate or xylose diacetate, followed by a second reaction stage wherein said diacetate product is fully acetylated by treatment with excess acetic anhydride to form glucose penta-acetate or xylose tetra-acetate, respectively. Any excess of acetic anhydride/acetic acid and by-product acetic acid can be recycled for use in the process.
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