Acrylamide was grafted onto corn starch with ceric(IV) ions as an initiator. Starch-graft-polyacrylamide was modified with amino acids through a reaction with the sodium salts of glycine, beta-alanine, and phenylalanine. The catalytic activities of the iron(III) complexes of the amino acid modified grafted materials were investigated for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). These new polymeric supports were found to be active in the catalytic decomposition of H2O2. The extent of decomposition varied with the composition of the support. The iron(III) complex of the glycine-modified material was the most active of the amino acid supported catalysts. Factors that affected the rate of reaction, such as the concentration of H2O2, the amount of the catalyst, the pH, and the temperature, were investigated. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.