Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks-67 (ZIF-67) was prepared via electrochemical deposition, which was used to conduct adsorptive removal of various organic dyes. The results revealed that ZIF-67 displayed good adsorption performance towards some dyes due to its positive Zeta potential at wide pH range or some special functional groups like -SO3 of dyes. Also, ZIF-67 could separate some dyes from the matrix subjected to its preferential uptake towards certain dyes. The possible adsorption mechanism including electrostatic interactions, coordination interactions and hydrogen bonding interactions was proposed and tested. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.