Four different pH regulators including NaOH, Na2CO3, NaHCO3 and NH3 center dot H2O were employed to prepare attapulgite doped bismuth yellow hybrid pigments by aqueous precipitation followed by an annealing process. Different hybrid pigments derived from different pH regulators had different color properties, and it might be related to the generated products in the process of adjusting pH, which further affected the phase compositions of the end hybrid pigments after being annealed. By contrast, the bismuth yellow hybrid pigments prepared using Na2CO3 as pH regulator exhibited the optimal color properties (L* = 76.81, a*= 4.64, b* = 81.16, C* = 81.29, and h* = 86.73). Interestingly, attapulgite provided the carrier for BiVO4 nanoparticles to inhibit the agglomeration, and the doping elements to improve its color properties as well. The as-prepared hybrid pigments are expected to be served as an eco-friendly and low-cost yellow colorant to replace the traditional and toxic ones. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.