In the recent study, microwave induced novel interpenetrating polymeric network (IPN) hydrogel based on gum copal-collagen (GcA-coll) has been reported for the efficient removal of malachite green dye from the waste water. The IPN [(GcA-coll)-cl-poly (AAm-ip-AA)] was synthesized using potassium persulfate (KPS)-N,N '-methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBA) as initiator- crosslinker system, acrylamide (AAm) as primary monomer and acrylic acid (AA) as secondary monomer under microwave radiations. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) design was used to optimize the percentage swelling of the candidate IPN hydrogel. RSM based Central Composite Design (CCD) was applied to the three most crucial synthesis parameters like initiator concentration, monomer concentration and crosslinker concentration so as to maximize the percentage swelling. The optimum conditions for the removal of 88% malachite green dye from waste water are pH similar to 7, initial dye concentration = 12 mg mL(-1), adsorbent dose = 500 mg. Pseudo first order and Pseudo-second order models were applied to study the kinetics and the mechanism of adsorption was studied by intraparticle diffusion model. The equilibrium data was further evaluated by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The synthesized IPN was found to be a propitious candidate to be used as a green adsorbent for removing malachite green dye from waste water. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:2293-2303, 2018. (c) 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers