The AB(2) type monomer, 2,2-bis (hydroxymethyl) propionic acid (bis-MPA), was successfully grafted from the surfaces of the amino groups modified attapulgite nano-fibrillar clay (A-ATP) via a melt polycondensation method with p-toltienesulfonic acid (p-TSA) as catalyst. The competitive adsorption properties of the hyperbranched aliphatic polyester grafted attapulgite (HAPE-ATP) towards the heavy metal ions (Cu(II), Hg(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II)) were investigated preliminarily. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.