The intercalation of [Cu(Phen)(H 2 O) 2 ] 2+ (CuPhen) in montmorillonite (Mt) produces a stable hybrid material that is very efficient in removing NH 3 from gas phase even at extremely low pressures.The process was studied by elemental analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, thermal analysis coupled with evolved gas mass spectrometry and DR UV-Vis, NMR and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The adsorption of CuPhen on Mt consists of two consecutive steps. During the first one, CuPhen intercalates alone into Mt through a cation exchange process, afterwards CuPhen and SO 4 2− ions entry jointly into the mineral interlayer. The two-steps adsorption process is described by a VI-type isotherm, successfully fitted by two independent Frumkin isotherms. NH 3 trapping is long-lasting, easy, fast even at extremely low gas pressure and reversible under mild conditions. Mt containing CuPhen always results well performant in removing ammonia from gas phase, but an appreciably higher adsorption capacity of NH 3 is obtained when SO 4 2− ion is absent from the interlayer. This hybrid montmorillonite is thus a promising material to be used in industrial or environmental contexts, as an efficient air-cleaner.