In this study, organopalygorskite clays were prepared as the adsorbent by using anionic and cationic surfactant as modifiers, and the adsorption properties and mechanisms of adsorption of reactive red were investigated, with a discussion on the adsorption thermodynamics. The results demonstrate that the hydrophobicity of organopalygorskite clay surface is enhanced and Zeta potentials are influenced, and anion-cation organopalygorskite clays possess the synergic adsorption of the reactive red in water within the appropriate ratio. The adsorption isotherms are nonlinear and can be described by Langmuir and Freundlich equations, and adsorption enthalpy is -12.23 kJ·mol^-1. There is no strong chemical interaction in the adsorption process and adsorption is mainly expressed as the collaborative effects of partition, hydrogen bond forces, dipole bond forces, van der Waals forces etc.