The extensive use of tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) has caused a lot of environmental pollution. In our study, graphene oxide functionalized magnetic particles (GO-MPs) were prepared and utilized as adsorbents for removing four TCs including tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, and doxycycline from aqueous solution. The adsorption process is fast and highly efficient. The factors (contact time, volume of TC solution, solution pH and ionic strength) affecting the adsorption process were studied. Solution pH and ionic strength had insignificant effects on TC adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity for TC was calculated to be 39.1 mg g(-1) according to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The adsorption of GO-MPs for TCs was attributed to the strong pi-pi interaction. The GO-MPs were applied for removing TCs from mineral water and the Pearl River water. GO-MPs demonstrated highly efficient removing performance for low levels of TCs in large volume of water sample solutions. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.