Three water-soluble polymers containing linear alkyl monool, 1,2-diol, and 1,2,3-triol groups, mostly on the primary amines of polyethylenimine, were synthesized, characterized, and tested for their ability to recover boric acid. The boron-binding capacities of these polymers and the backbone polyethylenimine were determined by titration, ultrafiltration, and inductively coupled plasma/ atomic emission spectroscopy analysis. At low boron concentrations, the 1,2,3-triol polymer performed better than the 1,2-diol, whereas at high boron concentrations, the 1,2-diol outperformed the 1,2,3-triol. B-11-NMR spectroscopy and retention studies with various salt concentrations indicated that boron interacted with these two polymers by means of ion pairing with the protonated amines and by borate ester formation. For the monool and the polyethylenimine backbone, the mechanism for boron binding was ion pairing only. These polymers are under consideration for the selective recovery and recycling of enriched boric acid used in the primary coolant loop of pressurized water nuclear reactors. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.