The paper aims to open up a new way for comprehensive utilization of corn straw and reduce the pollution and damage to the environment. The microcrystal cellulose was prepared from corn straw skin; and the composition, content and polymerization degree of microcrystal cellulose under different preparation conditions were determined and analyzed. According to the experimental results, when the reaction time was 69 min, the reaction temperature was 50 ℃ and the amount of cellulose was 0.98 g, the optimum value of polymerization degree of microcrystalline cellulose in corn straw skin was 104. At the same time, the influence of each factor on the response value was analyzed by response surface method; and the regression equation was established. According to the results of variance analysis, the established equation was very significant. The preparation of corn straw skin microcrystal cellulose and its application in preparation of ink-jet printing paper provide an effective way for the comprehensive utilization of the corn straw.