Creating　petroleum　residue-based　new　functional　materials　are　vital　for　the　sustainable　development　of　petroleum　residues.　This　study　developed　a　method　to　prepare　a　petroleum　residue-based　ultrathin-wall　graphitized　mesoporous　carbon　(PGMC)　with　high　specific　surface　area　by　the　carbonization　of　a　composite　of　the　petroleum　residue　uniformly　mixed　with　aluminium　isopropoxide.　Results　show　that　the　PGMC　possesses　a　highly　fluffy　ultrathin-wall　mesoporous　structure　with　a　high　degree　of　graphitization.　It　had　a　high　specific　surface　area　of　1174　m2　g−1　with　a　high　pore　volume　of　4.57　cm3　g−1　and　a　narrow　pore　size　distribution　at　8.09　nm.　These　unique　features　endow　the　PGMC　with　excellent　adsorption　properties　for　Congo　red,　Malachite　green,　and　Methylene　blue　removal.　The　experimental　data　were　better　described　with　Freundlich　isotherm　and　Quasi-second-order　kinetic　models.　Thermodynamic　analysis　indicated　a　spontaneous　and　endothermic　adsorption　process.　The　adsorption　mechanisms　proposed　that　pore-filling　effect,　π-π　conjugation,　and　electrostatic　interaction　were　the　main　interactions　between　the　PGMC　and　dyestuff,　followed　by　functional　groups　and　hydrogen　bonding.　Moreover,　the　PGMC　could　maintain　good　adsorption　rates　after　five　cycles,　proving　that　it　is　an　effective　adsorbent　with　good　adsorption　ability　and　cycling　stability.　©　2024　Elsevier　B.V.