[en] Adsorption of metal ions from a solution to an adsorbent is controlled by the surface functional groups of the adsorbent. Cellulosic fibers generally have very few functional groups that are capable of adsorbing metals. Sorption properties can be improved by grafting new functional groups onto the cellulose backbone. Many different kinds of functionalities have been studied for their potential to remove metal ions from aqueous solutions such as imino acetic acid [1], Schiff bases [2], amidoxime [3], amine [4], thiosemicarbazide [5], carboxylic acid [6], phosphoric acid [7] and sulphonic acid [8] groups. (author)