Mg-Al layered double hydroxide intercalated with 2,7naphthalenedisulfonate ions (2,7-NDS center dot Mg-Al LDH) selectively absorbs aromatic compounds from aqueous solutions. The amount of material absorbed by 2,7-NDS center dot Mg-Al LDH depends on the electron-donating or electron-withdrawing properties of the functional groups on the molecules to be absorbed. The absorption mechanism is dependent on the pi-pi stacking interactions between the aromatic ring of the molecules to be absorbed and the naphthalene moiety of 2,7-NDS2-.