In this study, we utilized Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (Mg-Al LDH) modified by intercalation with three aromatic sulfonates-2,7-naphthalene disulfonate (2,7-NDS(2-)). benzenesulfonate (BS(-)), and benzenedisulfonate (BDS(2-))-for the uptake of two aromatics-1,3-dinitrobenzene (DNB) and anisole (AS)-from aqueous solution and determined the effect of the aromatic sulfonates on the uptake of these aromatics. We found that the electron-rich aromatic ring of the intercalated aromatic sulfonates such as 2,7-NDS(2-) undergoes strong pi-pi stacking interactions with the electron-poorer benzene ring of DNB in aqueous solution, and these interactions result in a higher uptake of DNB by the modified Mg-Al LDHs In contrast, the electron-poor aromatic ring of the aromatic sulfonates such as BDS(2-) undergoes weak pi-pi stacking interactions with the election-poorer benzene ring of DNB, and these interactions result in a lower uptake of DNB by the modified Mg-Al LDHs (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved