Changes of reaction variables upon the reaction of jute fiber with acrylonitrile, like concentration of sodium hydroxide, reaction time, and reaction temperature, were studied in the present work. Benzene and dioxane were used as diluents for acrylonitrile and reactions were conducted in their presence in different amounts. Jute fibers were delignified progressively and their effect on the cyanoethylation reaction was studied. It was found that fiber swelled with ethylene diamine, prior to cyanoethylation, gave a higher yield of cy anoethylated jute. Some preliminary work was done to investigate the distribution of reacted chemicals among its major constituents. An FTIR study was performed to show the partial substitution of hydroxyl groups by the cyanoethyl group. The FTIR study also revealed that not only did hydroxyl groups of the cellulosic component of jute react with acrylonitrile but hydroxyl groups of lignin also took part in the reaction.