The feasibility of using bacterial cellulose as a source for environmentally compatible ion-exchange membranes (IEM) was studied. Bacterial cellulose was modified with cation-exchangeable acrylic acid (AAc) by UV-graft polymerization to prepare membranes having ion-exchange capacity (IEC) and greater structural density. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra showed that acrylic acids were successfully bound to bacterial cellulose. Morphological changes of acrylic acid-treated bacterial cellulose were examined through scanning electron microscopy. A dense structure of the membrane increased with increasing UV-irradiation time. Acrylic-modified bacterial cellulose membrane showed reasonable mechanical properties, such as tensile strength of 12MPa and elongation of 6.0%. Also the prepared membranes were comparable to the commercial membrane CMX in terms of the electrochemical properties, ie IEC of 2.5meq g(-1)-dry mem, membrane electric resistance of 3 ohm cm(2), and transport number of 0.89. (C) 2003 Society of Chemical Industry.