Cellulose　is　a　promising　raw　material　that　can　be　modified　through　a　variety　of　chemical　modifications　to　obtain　many　functional　materials.　Cellulose-g-acrylamide　copolymer　was　prepared　in　a　homogeneous　medium　by　using　N,N＇-methylenebisacrylamide　as　the　crosslinker　without　any　radical　initiator　using　microwave　radiation.　The　1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium　chloride　ionic　liquid,　which　is　an　environmentally　friendly　and　effective　reaction　medium,　was　chosen　to　dissolve　the　cellulose　and　the　homogeneous　graft　polymerisation　of　acrylamide　onto　the　cellulose.　Owing　to　the　effects　of　microwave　heating,　the　reaction　time　was　significantly　shortened:　1　minute　microwave　heating　was　adequate,　compared　to　30　minutes　to　5　hours　with　a　conventional　heating　method.　The　influences　of　monomer　concentration,　crosslinker　dosage,　microwave　power　and　reaction　time　were　investigated.　The　obtained　cellulose　graft　copolymer　was　characterised　by　infrared　spectrum,　thermogravimetric　analysis　and　scanning　electron　microscopy.　A　feasible　reaction　mechanism　of　grafting　based　on　microwave　heating　was　proposed.　©　W.　S.　Maney　&　Son　Ltd　2015.