The influence of surfactants: anionic SDS, nonionic Triton-100 and their mixture (SDS/TX-100) on the structure of the adsorption layer in the system: carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)/alumina (Al2O3) was measured. The surface charge density of alumina and its zeta potential were determined in the presence of the CMC macromolecules and the surfactant particles. In order to gain more information about the structure of adsorption layer the amount of CMC adsorption in the presence of surfactants as well as the thickness of the CMC adsorption layer were determined. It was proved that in the presence of surfactants mixture (SDS/TX-100) the amount of adsorption of CMC is the highest and the obtained adsorption layer is the thickest. On the other hand, when Triton X-100 is added to the measured system the polysaccharide conformation is closely packed. The amount of adsorption is large but the thickness of the adsorption layer is relatively low. In the presence of SDS macromolecules of CMC form conformation expanded towards the bulk solution. Such a conformation is characterized by the smaller amount of adsorption of polymer but the larger thickness of the adsorption layer. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.