A cationic polyelectrolyte, poly (diallyldimethylammoniumchloride) (PDADMAC) and a smectite-type layered silicate (sodium activated montmorillonite clay (Sodium-Montmorillonite, NaMt)), intercalated composites (PDADMAC/NaMt) were prepared. Basal spacings (d001) of NaMt in composites were measured by X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Ultrasonic addition of low molecular weight PDADMAC into the NaMt structure (at very low concentration and very low PDADMAC(g)/NaMt(g) ratios) resulted in good adsorbing properties both for positively and negatively charged dyes. The adsorption kinetics of the prepared composites both for negatively charged [remazol black (RB)] and positively charged [methylene blue (MB)] reactive dyes were investigated. The RB adsorption efficiency of the positively charged composite is approximately three times that of the pure NaMt while its MB adsorption efficiency is as good as that of pure NaMt. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013