A novel composite hydrogel was prepared via uv irradiation copolymerization of acrylic acid and maize bran in the presence of composite initiator (2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone and ammonium persulfate) and cross-linker (N,N'-methylenebis (acrylamide)). under the optimized conditions,maize bran-poly (acrylic acid) was obtained (2507 gg-1 in distilled water and 658 gg-1 in 0.9 wt%Nacl solution).