The polyelectrolyte adsorption on colloid particles is often used for stabilization or flocculation of water suspensions. The aim of this work is to study the adsorption of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) on alumina (gamma-Al2O3) colloid particles. The particles and polymer are chosen because of the capability of the metal-oxide ampholyte surface and the weak polyelectrolytes to alter their charge by pH. The measurements are done at pH 6.0 where the CMC carboxylic gropes are almost fully dissociated and the alumina surface is positively charged. The high linear charge density of the polyelectrolyte chain provides Na+ counterions condensation on the COO- groups. The main employed method is the electric light scattering based on particle orientation in sinusoidal electric field. The electric polarizability and the relaxation time after field switching off (both depending on the particle charge and size) are used as criteria for polymer adsorption and particle aggregation. Micro-electrophoresis is applied as additional techniques indicating the sign and density of the surface charge. The results obtained give the conditions (time dependence, particle and polymer concentrations) where the CMC adsorption is complete and the suspension is stable. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.