We developed an effective strategy to synthesize a novel hydrophilic-hydrophobic magnetic interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) for adsorptive removal of salicylic acid from aqueous solution. The proposed magnetic poly (methyl acryloyl diethylenetriamine)/polydivinylbenzene (PMADETA/PDVB) IPNs was synthesized by interpenetration of polydivinylbenzene (PDVB) networks in the pores of the magnetic poly (glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) networks, and then the first PGMA networks were transformed to poly (methyl acryloyl diethylenetriamine) (PMADETA) networks by an amination reaction. The magnetic PMADETA/PDVB IPNs contained hydrophilic PMADETA networks as well as hydrophobic PDVB networks, inducing a much enhanced adsorption towards salicylic acid (228.9 mg/g at an equilibrium concentration of 100 mg/L), which was 20.8 times relative to PGMA and 12.7 times relative to PGMA/PDVB IPNs. At an initial concentration of 1037.9 mg/L and a flow rate of 1.3 mL/min, the dynamic saturated adsorption capacity was measured to be 297.0 mg/g. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.