An innovative ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibrous adsorbent was successfully synthesized via radiation grafting and applied to the selective capture of palladium ions from dilute aqueous solutions. The influence of the pH, initial Pd(II) concentration, and temperature on the adsorption performance was examined in a batch adsorption experiment. Pd K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra indicated that Pd(II) was immobilized on the adsorbent surface via a ligand exchange reaction that formed a stable UHMWPE-PMDA-Pd complex. Although the concentrations of coexisting ions (Cu(II), Zn(II), Cr(VI), Fe(III), and Ni(II)) in the solution were much higher than that of Pd(II), the adsorption capacity for Pd(II) of the as-prepared absorbent was significantly greater than that for other metal ions. Kinetic studies showed good correlation with the pseudo-second-order model. The maximum capacity for Pd(II) adsorption was approximately 221.8 mg.g(-1) at 298 K. The adsorption behavior conformed to the Langmuir isotherm model. Thermodynamic studies revealed that the adsorption of Pd(II) was a feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic process. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.