The coating of anionic cyclodextrin polymer on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) textile was achieved by crosslinking between β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and citric acid (CTR) to adsorb paraquat herbicide from aqueous solution. This coating performance (30 min, 170 °C) was 22.18% of weight gain which was corresponded to 0.51 mmol/g of ion exchange capacity (IEC). Then, the samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The appropriated pH was 6.5 and the equilibrium time was 420 min. At 30 °C, the adsorption capacity towards paraquat (PQ) was enhanced (4.5, 18.9 and 23.7 mg/g) when the initial concentration of paraquat was increased (10, 50 and 250 mg/L). The adsorption kinetics was fitted to the pseudo-second-order model and the adsorption isotherm was suitable to Langmuir model. For the thermodynamic studies, the negative ∆G° revealed a spontaneous process, the negative ∆H° showed an exothermic process and the positive ∆S° displayed an enhanced disorder. Finally, the reusability of functionalized textile in methanol was reached 78.6% after six regeneration cycles and the stability of sample in various solvents was also studied. Graphical abstract Anionic cyclodextrin polymer coated on PET textile issued from the crosslinking between β-cyclodextrin and citric acid was used as an efficient adsorbent for paraquat removal from aqueous solution.