The effects of functional groups on polymer adsorption onto titania pigment particles have been investigated as a function of pH and ionic strength using polyacrylic acid and modified polyacrylamides. The polyacrylamides include the homopolymer, an anionic copolymer with hydroxyl and carboxylate group substitution, and a nonionic copolymer with hydroxyl group substitution. Adsorption isotherms and infrared spectroscopy were used to examine the polymer-pigment interactions. The adsorption of the polyacrylic acid and anionic polyacrylamide on titania pigment is greatest when electrostatic repulsion is absent or reduced. At low pH values, below the pigment isoelectric point (IEP), or at high ionic strength, the adsorption density of the anionic polymers on titania pigment is high, while at higher pH values above the pigment IEP, the adsorption density decreases. But the adsorption of nonionic polymers on titania pigment is not influenced by either ionic strength or pH. Acrylamide groups were found to hydrogen bond with the titania pigment surface, independent of pH. With the inclusion of hydroxyl functional groups into the polyacrylamide chain, the polymer adsorption density increased without increased adsorption affinity. Carboxylate functional groups in the anionic polymers strongly interact with the pigment surface, producing the highest adsorption density at low pH values. All polymers exhibit Langmuir adsorption behavior with hydrogen bonding found as the dominant mechanism of adsorption in addition to electrostatic interaction occurring for the anionic polymers. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.