The homogeneous grafting of a hydrophilic monomer onto cellulose derivatives was carried out in an aqueous system at 30, 50, 70, and 90degreesC during reaction periods of 30-180 min. The graft polymer was isolated by ethanol from the reaction mixture, dried, and weighed. The grafted polymer was characterized by the IR method, as well as the microscopic sample morphology detected by scanning electron microscopy. The water absorption capacities and grafting values of the grafted cellulose derivatives were also determined. The maximum grafting yield was obtained at 30degreesC.