Magnesium　oxide　is　believed　to　be　a　promising　material　with　adsorption　functionality　for　water　purification　due　to　its　easy　preparation　and　low　cost.　This　paper　describes　the　synthesis　of　uniform　Mg(OH)(2)　nanosheets　via　a　solution-phase　route.　Porous　MgO　nanosheets　can　be　obtained　by　calcining　the　Mg(OH)(2)　precursor　at　400　degrees　C.　Both　Mg(OH)(2)　and　MgO　show　good　adsorption　removal　properties　towards　a　typical　azo　dye　Congo　Red　(CR),　which　has　resistance　to　oxidation　and　decoloration　in　aqueous　solutions.　We　concluded　therefore　that　the　fabricated　Mg-compounds　are　promising　materials　for　dye　removal　from　aqueous　solutions.