The porous alpha-Fe2O3 nanomaterials were prepared using glycine as structure-directing agent via a simple hydrothermal synthesis followed by calcination. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms measurement. The as-obtainted alpha-Fe2O3 presents crosslinked hierarchical pore structure on small meso (ca. 15 nm), large meso (ca. 40 nm) and macro (ca. 100-200 nm) length scales. The equilibrium adsorption data of p-nitrophenol on the as-prepared samples were well fitted by the Langmuir isothermal model. The adsorption kinetics was found to follow the pseudo-second-order equation. The Fe2O3 samples are found to be effective adsorbent for the removal of p-nitrophenol from wastewater as a result of their high surface area and accessible diffusion pathways of porous network. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.