A novel nanocomposite microgel based on nanocellulose and amphoteric polyvinylamine (PVAm) was fabricated via a two-step method. Firstly, cellulose nanocrystal was oxidized by sodium periodate to yield dialdehyde nanocellulose (DANC). DANC was then used as a crosslinker to react with PVAm to obtain a pH responsive microgel with high density of free amine groups. The microgel was characterized using FTIR, XRD, AFM and elemental analysis. AFM images revealed that the nanocomposite was microspherical particles with a diameter ranging from 200 to 300 nm. The microgel was found to be effective in anionic dye removal at acidic conditions. The adsorption isotherms for congo red 4BS, acid red GR and reactive light yellow K-4G fit well with the Sips model, and the maximum adsorption capacities were 869.1 mg g(-1), 1469.7 mg g(-1) and 1250.9 mg g(-1), respectively. The adsorption for these three anionic dyes all followed pseudo second order kinetics, indicating a chemisorption nature. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.