Mechanocatalytic partial depolymerization of cellulose in a planetary ball mill is shown to be dependent on various reaction parameters. The reaction parameters investigated in this work are reaction time, acid content, grinding ball material and diameter as well as rotational speed and filling level. In general, higher glycan yields are observed with higher energy inputs during the reaction. Hereby the glycan yield is dependent on the impact number and the reaction probability which correlates with the kinetic energy of the grinding balls. Further it could be shown that the glycan yield and the glycan weight average molecular weight is dependent on all parameters. E.g.