In this study, the main objective is the preparation and the characterization of a modified Algerian bentonite based adsorbent by intercalation with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA). Natural and modified bentonites were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The X-ray results indicated that the geometry of the interlayer space changes by the intercalation of HDTMA cations, resulting in an increase in the basal spacing from 1.34 to 1.96 nm. The adsorption efficiency of natural and HDTMA-bentonite was examined for humic acid (HA) removal by batch adsorption experiments under different operating conditions. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity qm of HA was found to be 54.80 mg g-1 and 330.34 mg g-1 for natural and HDTMA-bentonite, respectively. The kinetic study indicated that HA adsorption followed the pseudo-first-order model. Both natural and HDTMA-bentonite showed quite good capabilities in removing HA from aqueous solutions.