Unfixed dyes released from various industries directly impact on the environment quality which is quite alarming and a matter of concern. In the present study, the removal of a carcinogenic azo dye, congo red (CR), was modelled for column adsorption dynamics following batch study in aqueous solution using iron modified cellulose nanobead. The effect of process parameters has been described for both batch and column study. Adsorption capacity of CR in the batch mode and column mode was calculated to be 3.29 and 8.69 mg g−1 respectively. The elution of retained CR from FeCNB phase was performed using 1.0 x 10-1 mol dm-3 NaOH and the maximum elution was found to be 81.25%. The experimental data were well described by BDST model.