The kinetics of removal of Basic Blue 3 from a textile effluent was studied using silica as an adsorbent. The adsorption was found to follow a first-order process. The influences on the rate of adsorption of various factors, such as temperature, concentration of dye solution, pH of the system and the amount of adsorbent have been investigated. On the basis of the isotherm studies, the various thermodynamical parameters have been calculated. The effect of electrolytes and surfactants has also been seen on the removal of the dye from the waste-water.