Abstract This study deals with the development of a clean and safe process for water pollution remediation. We studied the potential use of Imino Diacetic Acid (IDA) activated calcium alginate beads for removal of cationic dyes from colored effluents in dynamic batch mode. Methylene blue (MB) has been chosen as a dye model for the study. The parameters that affect the beads surface modification process such as ρ-benzoquinone (PBQ) and IDA concentration, reaction time, pH, temperature and finally cross linking time in calcium chloride solution were studied. Maximum percents of dye removal are about 65% and 90% were achieved at initial MB concentration of 50 mg l−1 after 60 min of adsorption at temperature (22 ± 1°C) for calcium alginate and IDA activated calcium alginate beads respectively. Surface modification reduces the competitive action of calcium ions especially at high bead’s crosslinking degree. Removal percentage was doubled using modified alginate beads cross linked for 120 min at 2% CaCl2. In co...