Abstract: Superabsorbent polymers (SAP) were made from carboxymethyI cellulose (CMC), acrylic acid (AA), acrylamide (AM). and [2- (methylacryloyloxy) ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride (DMC.) through graft copolymerization’. The factors affecting the water-absorbent capacity of SAPs, such as monomers ratio, CMC dosage, content of initiator and crosslinking agent, and neutralization degree of AA, were investigated and discussed in detail. The optimal conditions were found to be as follows: m(AA):m(AM):m(DMC)=1.86: 1.00 : 0. 31; neutralization degree of AA, 75%; CMC dosage, 5%; initiator content, 2. 5%; crosslinking agent content, 0. 1%, reaction temperature, 60 ℃; reaction time, 45 rain. Amphoteric SAPs, with the absorbent capacity of 1 503 times their own weight in distilled water and 165 times in 0.9% salt solution under optimized synthesis condition, were obtained.