Betaine‐modified cationic cellulose was prepared through the reaction of cellulose with betaine hydrochloride by an efficient one‐step dry method. Dicyandiamide was used as a dehydrating agent to promote the formation of ester bonds between the reactants. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the cellulose betainate. Experiments showed that at a molar ratio of the cellulose glucose unit, betaine hydrochloride to dicyandiamide, of 1:1:0.5 at 150°C for 3 h, the degree of substitution of the cationic group reached 0.80. The adsorption of simulated C. I. Reactive Red 24 and C. I. Reactive Red 195 wastewater on the cationic cellulose was carried out, and the effects of the adsorbent dose, initial dye concentration, and salt concentration on the dye removal efficiency were investigated. The equilibrium adsorption isotherm data of the cationic cellulose exhibited a better fit to the Langmuir isotherm model than the Freundlich one. The experimental results suggest that the prepared cationic cellulose materials show potential application for reactive dye wastewater treatment. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40522.

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Modification of cotton fabric with 2-methacryloyloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (DMC) was achieved through free-radical initiated graft polymerization with K2S2O8/NaHSO3 as the initiator. Grafting of DMC was confirmed by ATR-IR of the modified cotton. The optimal grafting reaction conditions, including DMC dosage, mole ratio of initiator to DMC, temperature, and time, were determined by cation content and dye fixation results of the modified cotton. The modified fibers were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and whiteness measurement. Salt-free dyeing of the modified cotton with commonly used C. I. Reactive Blue 19, C. I. Reactive Yellow 145, and C. I. Reactive Red 195 presented high fixation of 96.8%, 98.7%, and 97.3%, respectively. These results indicated that the modification is effective for changing the surface charge of the fiber and increasing the dye-fiber reactivity. The color fastness and strength property were still very satisfactory. With excellent properties, this dyeing method shows promise in real application for eliminating the usage of salt and reducing environmental pollution.