Water pollution is a worldwide issue, which seriously affects human health and environmental sustainability. Highly efficient and environmentally friendly adsorbent materials are urgently needed for water pollution treatments. The layered structure of graphite phase carbon nitride(g-C₃N₄) is similar to graphite, so it has many excellent properties, such as large surface area, high thermal stability and chemical inertness, which make it an emerging adsorbent material. This paper mainly introduces the application of g-C₃N₄-based materials in the elimination of heavy metal ions, radionuclides and organic pollutants. The interaction mechanisms between g-C₃N₄-based materials and contaminants are analyzed by batch experiments, spectral analysis, surface coordination model and theoretical calculation. The interaction mechanisms are mainly surface complexation, π-π stacking, ion exchange and electrostatic interaction. This paper will help readers further understand the interaction mechanisms between g-C₃N₄-based materials and contaminants, and explore more g-C₃N₄ modified materials for environmental remediation.