A simple ultrasound-assisted co-precipitation method was developed to prepare ferroferric oxide graphene oxide magnetic nanoparticles (Fe(3)O(4)GO MNPs). The hysteresis loop of Fe(3)O(4)GO MNPs demonstrated that the sample was typical of superparamagnetic material. The samples were characterized by transmission electron microscope, and it is found that the particles are of small size. The Fe(3)O(4)GO MNPs were further used as an adsorbent to remove Rhodamine B. The effects of initial pH of the solution, the dosage of adsorbent, temperature, contact time and the presence of interfering dyes on adsorption performance were investigated as well. The adsorption equilibrium and kinetics data were fitted well with the Freundlich isotherm and the pseudosecond- order kinetic model respectively. The adsorption process followed intra-particle diffusion model with more than one process affecting the adsorption of Rhodamine B. And the adsorption process was endothermic in nature. Furthermore, the magnetic composite with a high adsorption capacity of Rhodamine B could be effectively and simply separated using an external magnetic field. And the used particles could be regenerated and recycled easily. The magnetic composite could find potential applications for the removal of dye pollutants. (C) 2014 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press. All rights reserved.