The　effectiveness　of　gemini-modified　palygorskite　(PGS)　as　the　novel　remediation　material　in　polycyclic　aromatic　hydrocarbons　(PAHs)-contaminated　water　remediation　was　revealed　and　examined.　The　sorption　behavior　of　gemini　surfactants　at　the　PGS/aqueous　interface　was　addressed　using　a　developed　two-step　adsorption　and　partition　model　(TAPM).　The　characterizations　of　gemini-modified　PGS　were　investigated　using　infrared　spectroscopy,　cationic　exchange　capacity,　and　surface　area　analysis.　The　effects　of　pH,　ionic　strength,　humic　acid,　and　temperature　on　sorption　of　phenanthrene　(PHE)　to　untreated　and　modified　PGS　were　systematically　studied.　Analysis　of　the　equilibrium　data　indicated　that　the　sorption　isotherms　of　gemini　fitted　TAPM　well.　The　modification　of　PGS　with　gemini　surfactants　provided　a　favorable　partition　medium　for　PHE　and　enhanced　PHE　retention　in　solid　particles.　The　solution　parameters　played　significant　effects　on　PHE　sorption　to　the　modified　PGS.　The　sorption　isotherms　of　PHE　on　PGS　at　different　temperatures　well　fitted　the　Freundlich　equation.　Thermodynamic　calculations　confirmed　that　the　sorption　process　of　PHE　on　modified　PGS　was　spontaneous　and　exothermic　from　293　to　303　K.　It　is　revealed　that　the　modification　with　gemini　surfactants　probably　offered　some　unique　surface　characteristics　to　the　clay　mineral　as　a　new　type　of　remediation　material.　This　can　provide　a　reference　to　the　potential　application　of　PGS　in　PAH-contaminated　water　remediation　process.