A series of carboxymethyl cellulose-g-poly (acrylic acid)/attapulgite hydrogel composites were synthesized for the removal of cationic dye methylene blue. Various factors affecting the uptake behavior were investigated. Adsorption rate of the hydrogel was quite fast, and adsorption equilibrium could be reached within 30min. Adsorption kinetics well followed the pseudo-second-order equation for all systems. The Langmuir isotherm was found to best represent the data for the dye uptake. Even when 20wt% attapulgite was introduced into the hydrogel, the corresponding maximum adsorption capacity reached 1979.48mg/g at 30 degrees C. The as-prepared adsorbents exhibited excellent affinity for the dye, and can be applied to treat wastewater containing basic dyes.