Due to specific properties, core-shell Fe3O4@SiO2 and core-shell-shell Fe3O4@nSiO(2)@mSiO(2) nanostructures have been extensively investigated for the contamination treatment of wastewater. However, these reported materials were usually used as advanced adsorbents or catalyst-supports. In this study, we demonstrate that magnetic mesoporous silica Fe3O4@nSiO(2)@mSiO(2) microspheres can not only exhibit excellent adsorptive performance for removal of DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl) ethane) from aqueous media, but also display high catalytic activity. Over 97% of DDT could be quickly removed from aqueous media in 60 min. At 60 degrees C the DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl) ethylene) content increases greatly as DDT disappears completely, and is decomposed completely after thermal treatment at a relatively low temperature of 450 degrees C. The obtained magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements and vibrating sample magnetometer. The results indicate that Fe3O4@nSiO(2)@mSiO(2) microspheres show strong superparamagnetism and have high specific surface area (577 m(2) g(-1)). (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.