Hydrophobic-hydrophilic macroporous polydivinylbenzene/polymethylacrylethylenediamine IPN (PDVB/PMAEM IPN) was synthesized indirectly through the strong forced compatibility. The effects of the hydrophobicity of adsorbate on the adsorption of salicylic acid and 5-sulfosalicylic acid onto the hydrophobic-hydrophilic PDVB/PMAEM IPN were investigated. PDVB/PMAEM IPN exhibited greater adsorption capacity of salicylic acid than that of 5-sulfosalicylic acid. The absolute values of Delta H, Delta G and Delta S of the adsorption of salicylic acid onto PDVB/PMAEM IPN were greater than those of 5-sulfosalicylic acid, indicating the adsorption of salicylic acid onto PDVB/PMAEM IPN was more welcome. Adsorption mechanism proved that greater adsorption capacity of salicylic acid onto PDVB/PMAEM IPN than that of 5-sulfosalicylic acid was attributed to the stronger hydrophobicity of salicylic acid. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.