Activated carbon/CoFe2O4 composite (AC/CFO) was synthesized by a simple one-step refluxing route and was used as adsorbent for the removal of malachite green (MG) dye from water. The structure, morphology and magnetic properties of as-prepared composite were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The results indicated that CoFe2O4 particles deposited on the surface of activated carbon in the composite were uniform with the particle size in the range of 14-20 nm. The composite adsorbents exhibited a clearly hysteretic behavior under applied magnetic field, which allowed their magnetic separation from water. Batch experiments were carried out to investigate adsorption isotherms and kinetics of MG onto the composite. The experimental data fitted well with the Langmuir model with a monolayer adsorption capacity of 89.29 mg g(-1). The adsorption kinetics was found to follow pseudo-second-order kinetic model. It was indicated that the as-prepared composite could be used as a promising and effective adsorbent for the removal of MG from water. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.