The sorption of 1,1’-dimethyl-4,4’bipyridilium dichloride (paraquat) on bentonite desiccated at 110 degrees C untreated, and acid-treated with H2SO4 solutions over a concentration range between 0.25 M and 1.00 M, from aqueous solution at 30 degrees C has been studied by using batch experiments. In addition, column experiments were carried out with the bentonite sample treated with the 1.00 M H2SO4 solution [B-A(1.00)] by using two aqueous solutions of paraquat of different concentrations (C = 29.40 mg dm(-3) and C = 65.38 mg dm(-)3). The experimental data points have been fitted to the Langmuir equation in order to calculate the sorption capacities (X-m) of the samples; X-m values range from 1.35 x 10(5) mg kg(-1) for the sample acid-treated with 0.375 M H2SO4[B-A(0.375)] up to 1.96 x 10(5) mg kg(-1) for the untreated bentonite [B-N]. The removal efficiency (R) has also been calculated; R values ranging from 44.61% for the [B-A(0.375)] sample up to 67.23% for B-N. The batch experiments show that the natural bentonite is more effective than the acid-treated bentonite in relation to sorption of paraquat. The column experiments show that the B-A(1.00) sample might be reasonably used in removing paraquat, the column efficiency increasing from 37.55% for the C = 65.38 mg dm(-3) aqueous solution of paraquat up to 66.58% for the C = 29.40 mg dm(-3) one.