Polyacrylate superabsorbent (PAS) was synthesized by aqueous solution polymerization crosslinked by N,N-methylene bisacrylamide. The effect of pH and concentration of several solutions on absorbency (Q) of PAS was studied. The results showed that the absorbency increased at first and then decreased with the increase of the solution's pH; the summit of the absorbing curve was attained when pH was about 6.25. The relation between absorbency and pH could be represented by a quadratic equation and the square difference was relatively small. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.