Magnetic charcoal was prepared by entrapment of fine charcoal particles into the structure of magnetic iron oxides. This adsorbent can efficiently adsorb a variety of organic compounds. For the adsorption experiments water soluble organic dyes belonging to the triphenylmethane, heteropolycyclic and azodye groups were used as model compounds. Maximum adsorption capacities ranged between 10 and 20 mg of dyes per 1 cm(3) of the sedimented adsorbent; this corresponds to 132.5-265 mg of dyes per 1 g of the dried adsorbent.