This research work involves graft copolymerization of jute fibers with methyl methacrylate (MMA), initiated by cerric ions, and optimization of the grafting parameters as a function of different polymerization conditions. It was considered to produce a hydrophobic jute fiber with enhanced properties. To achieve this, the effects of monomer concentration and grafting percentage on FTIR spectra, mechanical properties, moisture regain, oil-adsorption capacity, and surface morphology were investigated, and optimum percentage of MMA with reasonable properties was suggested. The results indicated that cerric ions initiated graft copolymerization of MMA onto jute with 30%, of weight of monomers at optimum conditions of acid concentration and temperature. The FTIR studies proposed grafting of MMA onto jute at hydroxyl groups. The results showed that mechanical properties and moisture regain (%) of samples decrease with increasing of graft percentage. The most remarkable features of this investigation include reducing oil-adsorption capacity with increasing of lipophilic monomer percentages after one limitation. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.