It　is　increasingly　urgent　to　develop　low　cost　and　efficient　adsorbent　due　to　severe　water　pollution　in　the　modern　society.　In　this　work,　montmorillonite　(MMT)　porous　spheres　(MPS)　were　prepared　via　self-assembly　of　MMT　nano　sheets,　and　their　adsorption　properties　were　evaluated　by　removal　of　Congo　red.　Effects　of　initial　solution　concentration,　solution　pH,　adsorbent　dosage　and　adsorption　time　on　adsorption　properties　of　the　MPS　were　investigated.　The　maximum　adsorption　capacity　reaches　598.31　mg·g−1.　The　adsorption　kinetic　research　indicates　the　adsorption　behavior　agrees　well　with　the　pseudo-second-order　kinetic　model,　and　the　adsorption　isotherm　can　be　effectively　described　by　the　Freundlich　isotherm　model.　The　MPS　is　promising　for　a　wide　range　of　wastewater　treatment　in　industrial　applications　due　to　its　efficient　adsorption　performance　and　recyclability.　©　2021　Elsevier　B.V.