NaX　zeolite　was　synthesized　from　coal　gangue　using　sodium　hydroxide　alkaline　fusion　hydrothermal　method,　and　then　modified　by　cationic　surfactant　didodecyldimethyl　ammonium　bromide　(DDAB).　Modified　zeolite　(SMZ)　was　characterized　by　BET,　XRD,　SEM　and　FTIR.　Response　surface　methodology　using　central　composite　design　(CCD)　was　used　to　investigate　the　effects　of　humic　acid　(HA)　concentration,　initial　pH　and　adsorbent　dosage　on　the　removal　effectiveness　of　HA　by　SMZ　and　determine　the　optimal　adsorption　conditions.　The　results　showed　that　the　surface　of　SMZ　becomes　rough,　and　DDAB　was　successfully　loaded　on　the　surface.　The　order　of　influencing　factors　on　adsorption　effect　was　as　follows:　pH＞HA　concentration＞adsorbent　dosage.　An　optimum　adsorption　conditions　with　88.71%　HA　removal　efficiency　were　HA　concentration　10mg/L,　pH　4.55,　and　adsorbent　dosage　(modified　zeolite)　5.5g/L.　The　adsorption　capacity　of　modified　zeolite　for　HA　was　significantly　improved　after　modification,　which　had　potential　application　value　for　HA　removal　from　water.　©　2023　Chemical　Industry　Press.　All　rights　reserved.