In this work, the graft copolymerization of acrylamide (AM) and methacryloyloxy ethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (DMC) with the hemicellulose in the alkaline peroxide mechanical pulping (APMP) effluent was investigated using the Fenton agent (FeSO4/H2O2) as an initiator. The effects of the reaction conditions on the characteristics of the graft copolymers were studied. On the basis of the graft copolymer characterization, the optimum conditions were as follows: total active ingredient concentration 31%, reactive temperature 50 degrees C, amount of the initiator 0.4%, ratio of H2O2 to FeSO4 1:1, molar ratio of DMC to AM 1.5:20 and optimum percentages of C, G, GE, and viscosity are 65%, 246%, 98%, and 5020 cP, respectively. Structure elucidation of the graft copolymer was obtained by H-1 NMR spectroscopy and FT-IR Gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) was employed to determine the molecular mass and molecular mass distribution of hemicellulose and graft copolymer. The thermal degradation properties of hemicellulose and the graft copolymers were measured by thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The graft copolymer was subsequently used as a corrugated paper surface sizing agent, which can significantly improve the physical strength and water resistance of corrugated paper.