Succinylated bitter cassava starches were evaluated for the removal of cationic, methylene blue (MB) and anionic, methyl orange (MO) dyes present in water. The native starch (NS) extracted from bitter cassava by the dry method, was modified using succinic anhydride (SA) as esterifying agent and sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium carbonate (Na 2 CO 3 ), sodium sulfate (Na 2 SO 4 ) and sodium chloride (NaCl) as non-toxic and environmentally friendly catalysts. The effect of the type and concentration of catalyst on the modification was evaluated. Starch replacement with SA was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The degree of substitution in the resulting succinylated starches (GS) was determined by volumetric analysis, presenting high values (0.5-0.9). These materials arisen superabsorbent gels, sensitive to changes in pH and ionic strength, and mostly with anti-polyelectrolytic behavior. MB dye had a higher affinity for succinylated starches than the MO dye. The removal capacity of MB was also influenced by the pH and the ionic strength of the solution. The kinetics and adsorption isotherms were satisfactorily adjusted to the pseudo-second order and Freundlich models, respectively. The esters functionalities of the starch proved to be reusable adsorbents, completing successfully five cycles of adsorption-desorption.