We carried out the graft copolymerization of the water-soluble natural polymer dextrin onto preirradiated polypropylene (PP) in an aqueous medium using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as the radical initiator. PP was irradiated by c rays from a Co-60 source at a constant dose rate of 3.40 kGy/h to introduce hydroperoxide linkages, which served as the sites for grafting. The graft copolymerization was studied as a function of different reaction parameters, and the maximum percentage grafting (P-g; 55%) of dextrin onto PP was obtained at optimum conditions of [BPO] 5.165 x 10(-2) mol/L, temperature 60 degrees C in 120 min with 15 mL of water. Different grafting parameters, such as the percentage apparent grafting, percentage grafting, and percentage true grafting have been evaluated. The graft copolymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Swelling studies were carried out in pure, binary, ternary, and quaternary solvent systems composed of water, ethanol (EtOH), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at different ratios. The maximum swelling percentage PP-g-dextrin (both composite and true graft) was observed in pure DMSO and DMF followed by EtOH and water. Water-retention studies of PP and PP-g-dextrin (both composite and true graft) were investigated at different time periods, temperatures, and pH values. The maximum percentage water retention of PP-g-dextrin (composite, 124%) was observed at 8 h and 50 degrees C in a neutral medium (pH 7). (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 119: 1090-1101, 2011