Ce(IV)-induced graft copolymerization of methacrylic acid (MAA) on polysulphone (PSU) surface is studied. After pretreatment either by formaldehyde solution or by air glow discharge plasma, the PSU fiber membrane was immersed in MAA solution with Ce(IV) and heated under 80 degrees C under N-2 protection. The MAA was induced by the Ce(IV) redox initiation system to polymerize on the PSU fiber membrane surface. It was found that the pretreatment of the membrane is a very necessary condition for the graft copolymerization to obtain high graft degree. For both the formaldehyde and the air glow discharge plasma pretreated membrane, the graft degree increase with the reaction time. To study the reaction mechanism, control experiments were carried out. Membrane surfaces were characterized by ATR-FTIR and XPS. The reaction mechanism of the graft copolymerization was discussed based on the experimental data. The effect of the graft copolymerization on the membrane's structure and water permeability was finally studied. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.