The accumulation of dissolved and colloidal substances (DCS) and inorganic salts in the white water of papermaking circulation system will result in the abnormal runnability of paper machine and low quality of products. Contaminant adsorption on a solid adsorbent in a fluidized bed reactor has been applied for white water treatment. In this study, three kinds of hydrophilic polymers [i.e., poly(methacryloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride) (poly-MAC), polyacrylamide (poly-AM) and poly(acrylic acid) (poly-AA)] had been grafted on the surface of the polystyrene (PS) spheres through two-step reactions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, elemental analysis, Zeta potential were evaluated the characteristics of modified PS spheres. The results showed that PS-poly(MAC) had good affinity to DCS. Cationic demand, TDCS, and turbidity of white water had been reduced by 79.5%, 40.0%, and 38.4%, respectively, when the amount of PS-poly(MAC) was 50 g/L. While PS-poly(AA) played an important role in removal of metal ions so as to cut down the conductivity of white water.