A novel alpha-Fe2O3/TiO2/activated charcoal plate (alpha-Fe2O3/TiO2/ACP) nanocomposite was prepared by electrophoretic deposition method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, and energy dispersive X-ray. The prepared nanocomposite was used as an electrode for decolorization of reactive yellow 39 solution using a new electrosorption-assisted electrophotocatalytic process under visible light irradiation. Response surface methodology was used to model and optimize the decolorization process. The dye concentration of 10 mgL(-1), Na2SO4 concentration of 7.9 g L-1, voltage of 700 mV, and time of 150 min were achieved as optimum conditions. Results showed that the decolorization efficiency in electrosorption-assisted visible light photoelectrocatalytic process using alpha-Fe2O3/TiO2/ACP nanocomposite was higher (94%) compared with those of TiO2/ACP (45%) and alpha-Fe2O3/ACP (60.26%) at optimum conditions. Moreover, the decolorization efficiency of 28.55% in adsorption, 43% in electrosorption, and 38.1% in photocatalytic processes were achieved using alpha-Fe2O3/TiO2/ACP nanocomposite at optimum conditions. The obtained results indicated that electrosorption-assisted photoelectrocatalytic process using alpha-Fe2O3/TiO2/ACP nanocomposite was more effective than other processes in the decolorization of the contaminated water. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.