In this study, we aimed to investigate the removal of basic dyes, including Safranin T (ST), Nile Blue A (NBA), and Brilliant Cresyl Blue (BCB), from aqueous solution with a sulfonated phenol-formaldehyde resin. This sulfonated resin was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The adsorption properties of this resin were investigated under different adsorption conditions with different initial dye concentrations, contact times, and pH values. The adsorption equilibrium data were analyzed with Langmuir and Freundlich models. The adsorption behaviors of ST, NBA, and BCB onto the sulfonated resol-type phenol-formaldehyde resin were better described by the Freundlich model. The adsorption capacities of the sulfonated resol resin for ST, NBA, and BCB decreased in the following order: NBA > BCB > ST. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.