A　novel　Fe-containing　carbon　foam　(Fe-CF)　was　achieved　with　a　hierarchical　porous　structure　by　carbonization　of　nano‑magnesium　oxide/epoxy　resin　mixture　followed　by　Fe(NO3)3　activation.　The　structures　and　properties　of　as-prepared　Fe-CF　were　characterized　via　XRD,　compression　strength　test,　FESEM,　TEM,　BET,　Raman　and　XPS,　meanwhile　the　effects　of　adsorption　conditions　on　the　removal　performance　of　Congo　red　(CR),　Malachite　green　(MG)　and　Methylene　blue　(MB)　by　the　Fe-CF　are　investigated　through　batch　adsorption　experiments.　Results　show　that　the　Fe-CF　obtained　at　1000　°C　possesses　a　fluffy　and　porous　structure　without　obvious　collapse　and　closure,　and　the　iron　oxide　particles　are　evenly　distributed　on　its　surface,　which　endows　it　with　high　adsorption　capacities　for　CR　(1263.36　mg　g−1),　MG　(679.84　mg　g−1)　and　MB　(483.66　mg　g−1)　at　the　optimum　conditions,　respectively.　Furthermore,　the　adsorption　process　can　be　depicted　well　by　the　Langmuir　and　pseudo-second-order　models,　and　the　thermodynamic　analysis　results　reflect　that　the　adsorption　processes　are　thermodynamically　feasible　and　spontaneous.　More　importantly,　the　prepared　adsorbent　retains　relatively　high　adsorption　ability　and　stability　even　after　five　regeneration　cycles.　©　2023　Elsevier　B.V.