Abstract: In order to investigate the impact of different modification methods and the combination of those methods on clinoptilolite adsorption of ammonia in aqueous solutions, three modification methods– salt, calcination and acid – were chosen, and they were combined in different orders. The results showed that the combination sequences clearly affected the adsorption performance of the modified zeolites. The optimal modification sequence was salt first, acid second and calcination last. With the optimal modified zeolites, the removal rates reached 87%, 92% and 94% in 15,30 and 50 mg/L ammonium solutions, respectively. The Langmuir and Freundlich equations were used to fit the adsorption behaviors of the zeolites modified by the optimal combination sequence. The results demonstrated that the Langmuir equation was better to fit the experimental data, and its maximum adsorption capacity was 8.23 mg/g with a regression coefficient (R²) of 0.9985. The adsorption kinetic result was fitted to the first-order equation, of which the regression coefficient (R²) reached 0.9981. Further investigation by SEM (scanning electron microscope) and BET (brunauer, emmett and teller) showed that the zeolites modified by the optimal sequence had a rougher surface and larger specific surface area compared with the natural ones.