A hydrogel membrane was prepared using activated carbon, sodium dodecyl sulphate modified montmorillonite clay, and sodium alginate. The activated carbon was derived from a locally available subsine plant and treated with boric acid as an activating agent. The hydrogel membrane was characterized using FTIR, SEM, EDX, and TGA. The membrane was tested for methyl red adsorption under various conditions, including pH, membrane dose, equilibrium time, temperature, and dye concentration. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 248.13 mg g⁻¹. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second order model, and the equilibrium data fitted the Freundlich isotherm closely (R² = 0.994). Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the adsorption was spontaneous (ΔG° = -3.51 kJ mol⁻¹), favorable, and endothermic (ΔH° = -1.48 kJ mol⁻¹). The hydrogel membrane showed good regeneration and reusability, maintaining its adsorption capacity after multiple cycles. Compared to other adsorbents, the hydrogel membrane demonstrated a higher adsorption capacity for methyl red. The study concluded that the hydrogel membrane is an effective adsorbent for methyl red removal from water solutions.A hydrogel membrane was prepared using activated carbon, sodium dodecyl sulphate modified montmorillonite clay, and sodium alginate. The activated carbon was derived from a locally available subsine plant and treated with boric acid as an activating agent. The hydrogel membrane was characterized using FTIR, SEM, EDX, and TGA. The membrane was tested for methyl red adsorption under various conditions, including pH, membrane dose, equilibrium time, temperature, and dye concentration. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 248.13 mg g⁻¹. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second order model, and the equilibrium data fitted the Freundlich isotherm closely (R² = 0.994). Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the adsorption was spontaneous (ΔG° = -3.51 kJ mol⁻¹), favorable, and endothermic (ΔH° = -1.48 kJ mol⁻¹). The hydrogel membrane showed good regeneration and reusability, maintaining its adsorption capacity after multiple cycles. Compared to other adsorbents, the hydrogel membrane demonstrated a higher adsorption capacity for methyl red. The study concluded that the hydrogel membrane is an effective adsorbent for methyl red removal from water solutions.