A high performance polymeric flocculant has been developed by partial alkaline hydrolysis of polyacrylamide grafted carboxymethylstarch (CMS-g-PAM). The optimized grade was determined through its higher intrinsic viscosity in solution. Various grades of this hydrolyzed graft copolymer were prepared by varying the reaction parameters. The hydrolyzed product was characterized through a series of physiochemical techniques (i.e. measurement of intrinsic viscosity, elemental analysis, molecular weight determination through SLS analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, and SEM micrograph). The laboratory synthesized polymers find potential application as highly efficient flocculant for the treatment of textile industry wastewater. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.